A Manchester employment tribunal found Royal Mail possessed sophisticated systems capable of designing shorter routes to accommodate a veteran postman’s disability needs but failed to make reasonable adjustments, ordering the company to pay £12,925 in compensation.
Employment Judge Rhodri McDonald determined the postal service could have permitted Darren Williams to resume work in September 2023 starting at 5am with a gradual transition to 6am, noting the company’s advanced walk-design capabilities.
The judge stated Royal Mail’s systems were sophisticated enough to create a shorter route for Williams, allowing him to complete duties in less time than colleagues. However, Judge McDonald noted a full 5am start requiring redistribution of one hour and 45 minutes would be unreasonable, whilst adjusting walks to accommodate a 6am beginning was achievable.
Williams, who suffers from autism and mental health conditions diagnosed in 2022, had maintained a 5am start time for decades at the Eccles delivery office in Greater Manchester. The early morning schedule allowed him to avoid busy periods and crowds, helping manage his anxiety before setting off on delivery rounds at approximately 9am.
The long-serving postal worker first joined Royal Mail as a teenager at 15 years old, maintaining the same working pattern of clocking in at 5am and finishing at 12.42pm. The early finish enabled him to return home in time to provide care for his wife, who has her own health difficulties requiring support.
The dispute arose when Williams returned from sick leave between November 2022 and February 2023 to find his original route merged into a different walk with a new start time of 6.45am, or 7.30am on Tuesdays. Royal Mail stated the change aimed to reduce the likelihood of further long-term absences.
Whilst still off work, Williams received numerous emails from his manager regarding the shift alteration. He responded emphatically: “I DON’T WANT TO CHANGE MY HOURS.” At the tribunal, he described feeling harassed by “constant email and letters telling me I have to change my hours.”
Williams subsequently took further sick leave from April 2023 until February 2024. An occupational health assessment confirmed that a 6.45am start would harm his mental wellbeing, supporting his need for the earlier schedule he had relied upon throughout his postal career.
The tribunal awarded Williams £12,925 for injury to feelings after finding the postal service failed to make reasonable adjustments for his disability. His separate harassment complaint was dismissed during the proceedings.
Judge McDonald’s ruling emphasized that Royal Mail’s technological capabilities for route planning made accommodation feasible. The sophisticated walk-design systems could have been deployed to create a workable solution balancing Williams’ disability needs with operational requirements.
The tribunal recommended Royal Mail confirm Williams’ current start time as 6am, representing a compromise between his preferred 5am schedule and the company’s proposed 6.45am start. The gradual transition approach from 5am to 6am suggested by the judge provides a framework for implementing the accommodation.
The case establishes precedent regarding employer obligations to utilize available technological systems when making reasonable adjustments for disabled employees. Royal Mail’s possession of sophisticated route-design capabilities became central to the tribunal’s determination that accommodation was achievable.
The ruling’s practical implementation will determine whether Royal Mail adjusts Williams’ start time to 6am as recommended by the tribunal. The £12,925 award compensates for injury to feelings caused by the failure to make reasonable adjustments during the period between September 2023 and the tribunal hearing.
