Mr J Hanson v Taggstar Technologies Limited — 2025

The tribunal considered a preliminary issue concerning whether Mr J Hanson was disabled within the meaning of section 6 of the Equality Act 2010 at the material time, identified as 26 March 2024 to 21 May 2024, by reason of mixed anxiety and depressive disorder. The respondent accepted that the claimant had reported stress and anxiety and had an acute episode in early March 2024, but argued that any substantial effect was limited to that short period and was not long term.

Employment Judge Wisby accepted the claimant's evidence and medical records showing low mood, suicidal and self-harm thoughts, poor concentration, low motivation, sleep problems and withdrawal. The tribunal found that the impairment had caused substantial adverse effects on normal day-to-day activities for at least the five months before early March 2024, that the substantial effect had not ceased by 21 May 2024, and that treatment effects from medication and CBT had to be ignored when applying the statutory test.

Applying section 6 and Schedule 1 of the Equality Act 2010, together with the authorities cited in the reasons, the tribunal concluded that the substantial adverse effect was likely to last for at least 12 months in total. It therefore held that the claimant was disabled at the relevant time. No monetary remedy was determined in this preliminary judgment.