UK Disability Claims Jump 79% to 4,056 as Neurodiversity Cases Test Employers
Updated
Updated · City A.M. · Aug 6
UK Disability Claims Jump 79% to 4,056 as Neurodiversity Cases Test Employers
1 articles · Updated · City A.M. · Aug 6
Summary
4,056 disability discrimination claims reached Employment Tribunals in the fourth quarter of 2025/26, up 79% from 2,272 a year earlier, with law firm Littler linking much of the rise to neurodiversity-related complaints.
ADHD and autism are appearing more often in cases because employers must consider disability discrimination risks even without a formal diagnosis under the Equality Act 2010, making hidden conditions harder to spot and manage.
Recent rulings have reinforced that risk: a Genesis PR employee with ADHD won a case in December after a judge found that calling her "disorganised" violated her dignity.
Employers face added pressure because adjustments vary widely by individual, while anxiety or depression can accompany ADHD or autism and lead to multiple claims that are costly and time-consuming.
Broader awareness is expanding the issue beyond formally diagnosed workers, with Deloitte's 2023 survey showing 53% of Gen Z self-identify as neurodivergent.
As workplace lawsuits surge 79%, could your company's rigid return-to-office mandate be a ticking legal time bomb for hidden discrimination claims?
When formal diagnoses take years, how can employers legally protect themselves while supporting workers who refuse to disclose their hidden conditions?
With over half of Gen Z identifying as neurodivergent, is the traditional 9-to-5 office model actually obsolete or just facing a temporary crisis?