Do I have to tell my employer I am disabled?
The pros and cons of disclosure. When is silence a risk?
No Legal Duty
You never have to disclose a disability. It is private.
The Risk of Silence
If you don’t tell them:
- No Protection: They cannot be sued for failing to make adjustments they didn’t know you needed.
- Performance: If you underperform due to a hidden disability, they will treat it as “laziness” or “incompetence” and discipline you.
Limited Disclosure
You can tell HR or Occupational Health and ask them to keep the medical details confidential from your manager, sharing only the “adjustments required”.
Unsure about your specific situation?
Use our interactive tool to check if your request is likely to be considered unreasonable.
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