Davren Williams worked at Royal Mail for decades and got used to starting the workday very early — this helped him avoid crowds and cope with anxiety, as well as return home on time to take care of his sick wife. After a long period of sick leave (November 2022 — February 2023), he was offered a later start and a new route zone upon his return, which he considered an excessive change in his usual routine.
Williams, who was diagnosed with autism and diagnosed with mental health problems in 2022, filed a disability discrimination lawsuit. The court in Manchester found that the employer had not made sufficient “reasonable adjustments”: the collective body should have given time for a smooth transition to a new schedule or considered the possibility of starting the shift earlier.
The tribunal ruled that Royal Mail should have reviewed the delivery routes to allow the postman to start no later than 6:00 a.m., with a gradual transition, and paid the victim £12,925 for moral damages. The harassment claim was rejected, but the court did not completely cancel the schedule change, recommending that the employer confirm in writing the acceptable shift start interval between 05:00 and 06:00.
