If you’re deaf, have hearing loss or tinnitus, your employer must make certain changes in your workplace so you’re not put at a disadvantage.
These changes are known as reasonable adjustments.
What the law says
If your hearing loss is severe enough that it makes day-to-day activities difficult for you, you’re protected as having a disability under the law.
In England, Scotland and Wales
Your employer must follow the Equality Act. The law says they must make reasonable adjustments so that you’re not put at a “substantial disadvantage” in work compared to people who do not have hearing loss.
Find out more about your rights from the Equality Act.
In Northern Ireland
Your employer must follow the Disability Discrimination Act. The law says they must make reasonable adjustments so that aspects of work are not “impossible or unreasonably difficult” for you.
What counts as a reasonable adjustment
Reasonable adjustments could include things like:
- changing the layout of a meeting room and using good lighting to make lipreading easier
- providing communication support for meetings
- providing assistive technology to help you communicate
- installing equipment such as flashing-light fire alarms
- moving you to an office with good acoustics where sound is transmitted well
- giving you time off work for your audiology appointments
Some adjustments may not be reasonable for your employer to make because of the cost or the effect on their business. In this case, they should work with you to find alternative ways to support you.
Asking for reasonable adjustments
Employers must make reasonable adjustments if they know, or could be reasonably expected to know, that you’re deaf or have hearing loss or tinnitus.
You can ask your manager or HR for reasonable adjustments, in a meeting or in writing. You could use the ACAS reasonable adjustment template letter.
If your employer refuses to make reasonable adjustments, or treats you unfairly because of your hearing loss, this could be discrimination.
Find out more about talking to your employer about hearing loss.
Finding out what adjustments could help you
You can ask your employer for support to identify what adjustments you need, or if your needs change over time.
They could arrange for you to see an occupational health specialist, or someone in your organisation who is trained to support with reasonable adjustments.
You can also ask your employer for a workplace assessment. This is where a specialist assessor visits you in your workplace to find out what adjustments, equipment and support you could benefit from.
Your workplace can include your home if you work from there some or all of the time.
The assessor will write a report recommending what reasonable adjustments your employer should make.
They may also recommend any extra support that could be funded through the Access to Work scheme. This is a government scheme that can help pay for support, equipment and adaptations that go beyond what your employer is legally required to provide.
Contact us
If you are deaf, have hearing loss or tinnitus and need free confidential and impartial information and support, contact RNID.
We’re open 8.30am to 5pm, Monday to Friday.