Tribunal orders Apple to pay $18,000 over worker's bathroom access
A tribunal ordered Apple to pay $18,000 to a worker. The worker was denied fair bathroom access because of his disability.
The ACT Civil and Administrative Tribunal ruled that Apple discriminated against a worker at its Civic store. Apple limited the worker's access to the accessible bathroom.
The worker had a medical condition requiring frequent toilet use. The worker needed to go about 10 times daily, often suddenly.
Evidence showed the accessible bathroom was regularly blocked by cleaning equipment. Staff also used it as a change room, forcing him to wait.
He worked there from September 2019 to March 2024. Senior member Robert Orr found the setup hurt him because of his disability.
Apple argued equipment was stored there due to lack of space. The tribunal found the company could not prove this was fair.
Apple later moved equipment and built separate change rooms. But the tribunal said these changes did not undo the discrimination he suffered.
- $18,000
- Compensation ordered
- September 2019 to March 2024
- Employment period
- Apple Civic store, Canberra
- Store location
- About 10 times per day
- Daily toilet needs
Why it mattersThe ruling shows that employers must provide fair disability help at work. They cannot use lack of space as a reason to restrict access.
AustraliaAustralian employers now have clearer guidance that accessible facilities must actually be accessible and that disability discrimination claims can succeed even when the company later made changes.
✓ Claims checked against the source. checked 3 d ago
