Q: One of my employees takes a long time to write reports and the end result is poorly expressed. It has been suggested that she might be dyslexic. Am I on dodgy ground if I terminate her employment?
Sep 21 2007
Answered by: Peter Done Ask a question
Yes, you might well be in trouble if she is indeed dyslexic. However, a poor command of English and an unacceptable length of time to produce reports could be caused by a multitude of reasons. I would suggest that the first thing you do is talk to her, in an informal way, to seek an explanation for the current level of performance. You do not say if she has always been like this or whether it has just started recently. Whilst starting recently does not rule out dyslexia it does introduce other possibilities as well.
You may be able to help resolve the matter if it is not connected to dyslexia. If it is dyslexia then it is a disability and the issue then becomes one of what reasonable adjustments can be made to eliminate or minimise the effect.
Once you have talked to her you will know which route to follow. If it is dyslexia you will need the assistance of an occupational health expert, from the Job Centre or a consultancy specialising in such matters, as to what reasonable adjustments might be possible. Only at the end of a long and exhaustive process would you be able to justify dismissal. I find it helps with issues like this to look at what the individual can do and build on that â“ looking at what they cannot do, with or without adjustments, leads to a negative approach and unsatisfactory solutions.
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