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‘Anxious’ cop wins £2,500 after she was asked to help shift furniture
A police officer with anxiety has been awarded £2,500 after an employment tribunal found that asking her to help move furniture was inappropriate in the circumstances. The case highlights employers’ duty to account for employees’ health conditions and make reasonable adjustments where needed.
The officer argued that the request exacerbated her anxiety, and the tribunal accepted that it caused her distress. The £2,500 payment was awarded for injury to feelings rather than for physical injury or lost earnings.
In short
- Officer awarded £2,500 after furniture-moving request
- Tribunal recognised the impact of her anxiety
- Case concerns disability-related workplace treatment
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The case for
The tribunal correctly recognised employers' legal duty under disability discrimination law to make reasonable adjustments for employees with recognised health conditions. If the officer's anxiety was known and the furniture removal request was foreseeable as likely to cause significant distress, failing to accommodate this represented a breach of that duty. The principle at stake is that workers with disabilities should not face exacerbation of their conditions as the price of remaining employed.
The case against
The award raises important questions about proportionality in workplace accommodation. Police officers work in unpredictable environments requiring flexibility and mutual support, and a request to help move furniture is a routine workplace task. If officers can avoid all potentially stressful requests, this may undermine team function and operational effectiveness. Reasonable adjustments should address genuine barriers to work, but not necessarily shield employees from all tasks that cause discomfort, especially in roles requiring resilience.
Explained simply
A police officer with anxiety won a tribunal case against her employer after being asked to help move furniture at work. An employment tribunal awarded her £2,500, finding the request was inappropriate given her health condition and caused her distress.
In employment law, employers must make "reasonable adjustments" for staff with health conditions or disabilities. This means taking steps to support them and avoiding actions that worsen their situation. The tribunal concluded that asking the officer to shift furniture failed to account for her anxiety.
The £2,500 was awarded for "injury to feelings" — compensation for emotional harm rather than lost wages or physical injury. The case illustrates the extent to which employers are expected to consider employees' health conditions when making workplace decisions.