The WRC found Mary Tierney’s disability discrimination complaint against Sports Direct Limited was not well founded. The decision was dated 4 January 2023.
Tierney said staff required her to wear a mask in the store and did not accommodate her when she said she could not wear one. She said a manager asked for proof of an exemption and told her she could not remain without it. Sports Direct said it was unaware she had a disability and required masks under government guidance.
The adjudication officer found that the doctor’s letter provided too little medical information to assess whether Tierney had a disability within the meaning of the Equal Status Act. The officer also found the manager had not been formally notified of a disability at the time, and that alternative ways to provide the service would have been reasonable accommodation. Tierney did not establish initial facts supporting an inference of discrimination, so the officer found no prohibited conduct.