Mr D Madlani v Rentokil Initial Ltd — 2022

This was a preliminary disability judgment heard at Reading by CVP on 28 September 2022 before Employment Judge Hawksworth. The respondent did not accept that Mr Madlani was disabled. The tribunal considered medical reports, the claimant's evidence, and the parties' submissions, and applied the section 6 Equality Act 2010 definition of disability together with the Schedule 1 provisions and the 2011 Guidance.

The tribunal accepted that Mr Madlani had specific learning difficulties, which it treated as dyslexia and ADHD. It found that those impairments affected reading, writing, watching television and films, driving, conversation, and shopping. The tribunal found that he took longer than people without the impairment to perform those activities, or needed more frequent pauses to refocus.

On substantial effect, the tribunal held that the impact on reading and writing was more than minor or trivial. It also found that the effects on watching television and films, driving, conversation, and shopping were minor when viewed separately, but substantial when considered cumulatively. On long-term effect, the tribunal found the difficulties had been present since at least 2004 and had lasted more than 12 months by the time of the events in the claim.

The tribunal therefore concluded that Mr Madlani was disabled for the purposes of section 6 of the Equality Act 2010 by reason of specific learning difficulties, namely dyslexia and ADHD. The judgment does not determine any discrimination, dismissal, or remedy issues; it decides only the disability issue.