Claimant v John Lewis plc — 2020

The judgment determined only the preliminary issue of disability. The claimant had brought complaints including disability discrimination, sex discrimination, unfair dismissal, breach of contract in respect of notice, and pay for untaken holiday, but the tribunal did not decide those complaints at this hearing.

The tribunal found that the claimant had a mental impairment of anxiety and depression and a physical impairment of haemochromatosis. It accepted evidence that anxiety and depression affected activities including interacting with people, shopping, eating, sleeping, and social or leisure activities, and that haemochromatosis affected activities including social activity, walking, preparing food, writing, and using a computer.

The tribunal concluded that the adverse effects were more than minor or trivial, including when considered cumulatively, and that medication and venesection treatment should be considered by reference to their deduced effect. It found that the substantial adverse effects were long-term during February 2018 to November 2018, and concluded that the claimant was disabled for the purposes of section 6 of the Equality Act 2010 by reason of anxiety, depression and haemochromatosis during that period.