In person (Ms Penny – Polish interpreter) v Respondent — 2026

At a preliminary hearing on 18 May 2026, the Tribunal considered whether Mr Sadowski was disabled under section 6 of the Equality Act 2010 at the material times because of mental health or hormonal imbalance/suspected insulin resistance. It found that he was not disabled by either asserted impairment, whether considered separately or together.

The Tribunal accepted that Mr Sadowski had mental health issues at relevant times and that his depression caused a substantial adverse effect when he was unable to work between March and May 2024. It nevertheless found insufficient reliable or persuasive evidence that the impairment had previously produced a substantial adverse effect on normal day-to-day activities or had lasted, or was likely to last, for at least 12 months. The medical reports described a non-chronic depressive episode, and the Tribunal concluded that the long-term requirement was not satisfied.

The Tribunal found no supporting evidence for the asserted panic attacks and no evidence establishing difficulty with personal hygiene and self-care to the extent required by the statutory definition. It also found that the evidence concerning sleep, concentration, memory, organisational difficulties and lethargy did not establish a substantial and long-term adverse effect, either alone or in combination with other matters.

In relation to hormonal imbalance or suspected insulin resistance, the Tribunal noted abnormal results in August and November 2023 and a referral to an endocrinologist, but there was no detailed explanatory endocrinology report. It found no medical or other persuasive evidence connecting those matters to a substantial adverse effect on Mr Sadowski's day-to-day activities, and no evidence that any such effect was more than trivial or long term. The asserted headaches, postprandial sleepiness, impaired concentration and memory were not sufficiently supported by the evidence.

This judgment determined disability status only. It did not adjudicate the merits of the pleaded disability discrimination allegations or the other pleaded claims, for which a full merits hearing was listed in October 2026. No remedy or monetary award was determined.