You can decide if you want to talk about your disability at work.

On this page:

• When to talk about your disability
• Tips for talking to co‑workers
• What people can’t ask you
• Your privacy

You should talk to your employer An employer hires people to work for them. about your disability if it might affect:

• how you do your job
• your safety.

You don’t have to tell anyone about your disability if it doesn’t affect your work or safety.

You can decide if you want to tell other people about your disability.

This is your choice.

There can be some good things about talking about your disability.

It can help you:

• build trust with your employer and co‑workers
• talk about how you can do your job
• talk about changing your workplace. A workplace is any place you might work, such as an office, factory or shop.

You might also need to ask for flexible working hours.

For example, you might ask to work:

• different amounts each day
• different days each week.

You don’t need to tell your employer everything about your disability.

The law says you only need to tell your employer about:

• how your disability might affect your work or safety
• any medication you take that might affect your work or safety.

You don’t need to tell anyone about other things in your life.

This includes things that are medical or personal.

If you are ready to talk about your disability at work there are some things you can do.

You might want to talk to your employer first.

You might want to work with your employer to decide how to tell other people about:

• your disability
• what support you need.

For example, you might want tell your co‑workers in an email or on a staff website.

You can also work with your employer to plan some training about disability in your workplace.

Talking about your disability can help your co‑workers have positive attitudes Attitudes are what you think, feel and believe. about disability.

You might be able to get funding Funding is money from the government to pay for services and supports. to change things in the workplace, like equipment.

You might also be able to get funding for services.

For example, training for co-workers to understand your experiences and what you need.

You can find out more on our page about funding for changes to the workplace.

Your co‑workers might want to know about:

• your disability
• how you manage it.

You can decide how much you tell them.

You don’t have to tell them any more than you want to.

If you feel comfortable talking to your co‑workers about your disability, you could talk about:

• what tasks are easier or harder for you
• how you might feel when some things happen
• how they can support you.

There are some things that your employer and co‑workers can’t ask you.

They can’t ask about:

• your personal life – like how you live
• your health or disability – like how you got your disability.

The law says that your employer or co‑workers can’t say mean things about your disability.

You can talk to your manager if you worry about:

• how people act around you
• questions people ask you.

Your employer might have a human resources (HR) People who work in human resources support other people who work for that employer. department.

You can also get support from them.

You can find out more about what to do if you are treated unfairly on our page about dealing with discrimination at work.

There are laws that protect your privacy.

The laws say that you can tell your co‑workers about your disability if you want.

But they can’t tell other people unless you say it is okay.

You can find out more on our page about how your personal information is protected.

Talking about mental health issues at work

Flexible working arrangements

Dealing with discrimination at work