The new Disability Discrimination Act (DDA) 2005 received Royal Assent last month, introducing changes to employment law that are likely to have a profound impact on businesses. New far-reaching provisions mean that those suffering from progressive illnesses such as cancer and HIV and those suffering from mental illnesses, will receive unprecedented protection at work.
The previous DDA of 1995 came onto the statute books in 1996. As is often the case, those seeking to rely on the protection of the DDA identified weaknesses in the Act and campaigned for changes. Concurrently, there have been challenges to the provisions of the DDA from the European Union (EU), most notably in the form of the General Framework Directive which has required the UK Government to implement a number of changes. Some of these changes came into effect on 1 October, 2004 through amendments made to the Act. The new DDA introduces further provisions and is expected to have a significant impact.
