DWP Treatment Of Its Disabled Staff

GEOFFREY REYNOLDS made this Freedom of Information request to Department for Work and Pensions This request has been closed to new correspondence. Contact us if you think it should be reopened.

The request was partially successful.

GEOFFREY REYNOLDS

Dear Department for Work and Pensions,
i recently read this harrowing tale of how you treat your disabled staff;

DWP failed employee with Asperger’s
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06/03/2013

The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has been ordered to pay a woman with Asperger's syndrome a total of £70,000 after an employment tribunal found it to be guilty of disability discrimination.

The Business Disability Forum has reported that the tribunal, held in Dundee, heard how the woman was asked to return to work but felt that a breakdown in trust and confidence led to high levels of anxiety which she was unable to overcome.

The DWP was judged to have subjected the claimant to harassment due to her Asperger's. The syndrome, which is a form of autism, shows no outward signs but can cause difficulties in social communication and interaction.

Many people with Asperger's syndrome have a variety of skills that enable them to thrive in a variety of roles. However, they are often disadvantaged when it comes to securing employment because of their difficulties with social skills.

The National Autistic Society said that many employers do not realise that people with some autism spectrum disorders, such as Asperger's syndrome, can be highly skilled and qualified as well as being extremely employable.

The tribunal initially awarded damages to the claimant of £54,000 as compensation for constructive unfair dismissal and disability discrimination. In a further hearing, another £17,500 was ordered to be paid by the DWP for failing to comply with a re-employment ruling.

Judge Ian McFatridge said that the DWP had "treated the claimant extremely badly".

"We were required to take into account the fact that the claimant is psychologically unable to return to work with the respondents and that this is something which has been brought on by the respondents’ treatment of her," he explained.

A DWP spokesperson said that it acknowledged the tribunal’s findings and works hard to ensure that it achieves its commitments to good practice in employing and working with disabled people.

I have a couple of questions,

1/ Was tax payers hard earned cash used to pay for the compensatory awards after the disgusting treatment that you dished out to this poor lady, one of your own employees?

2/ You were fined an extra £17500 for not re-employing the lady because you claim the Aspergers Syndrome made her unemployable.
How many persons suffering from the same syndrome have been found fit for work by ATOS HCPs?

3/ The judge said you treated the claimant extremely badly and yet you say you work hard to commit to good practice in employing and working with disabled people.
How many disabled personnel have you made redundant and how many are taking/or sought action against you?

4/ Was there any input from the National Autistic Society when formulating PIP examinations or ESA?

5/ What was the total cost of the case, including specialists and lawyers and the tribunal bench and other associated staff?

6/ Aspergers Syndrome shows no outward signs. How does an ATOS HCP, whose qualification and title is not recognised by any medical organisation, evaluate on this condition if it is not visible, especially if important medical notes have not been submitted in the first instance?

Yours faithfully, GEOFFREY REYNOLDS

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Flint Lesley DWP DWP STRATEGY & PERFORMANCE, Department for Work and Pensions

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Mr Reynolds,
 
Here is the reply to your Freedom of Information request.
 
DWP HR Central Freedom of Information Team Department for Work and
Pensions| Human Resources| Level 7, Caxton House, 6-12 Tothill Street.
London. SW1H 9NA
 
 
 

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GEOFFREY REYNOLDS

Dear Department for Work and Pensions,

Please pass this on to the person who conducts Freedom of Information reviews.

I am writing to request an internal review of Department for Work and Pensions's handling of my FOI request 'DWP Treatment Of Its Disabled Staff'.
.
You have failed to answer number one and number two

Number one asks if tax payers hard earn cash was used to pay the lady.
You have said it came from your account. Where does the money originate that is in your account?

Question two is about the lady with Aspergers Syndrome being unemployable because of her disability. Please answer the question, especially why you find it fit to find her condition makes her unemployable yet ATOS finds them fit for work....
I asked how many persons with Aspergers had been found fit to work by ATOS.

It would seem its a matter of dual standards when your department find somebody with Aspergers to be unemployable, yet ATOS deems them fit for work...
i therefore request an internal revue that might explain the variation in what you say and what you actually do. Hypocrisy springs to mind!

A full history of my FOI request and all correspondence is available on the Internet at this address:
http://www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/dw...

Yours faithfully,

GEOFFREY REYNOLDS

DWP freedom-of-information-requests, Department for Work and Pensions

This is an automated confirmation that your request for information has
been accepted by the DWP FoI mailbox.

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expect a response within 20 working days.

Should you have any further queries in connection with this request do
please contact us.

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Operations FOI Requests, Department for Work and Pensions

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Dear Mr Reynolds,

 

Please find attached DWP response to your recent Freedom of Information
review request.

 

 

 

Yours Sincerely

 

 

DWP Operations

FOI Team

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