From the BBC:
“Lincolnshire wheelchair user
says she was denied job interview”
Holly Girven said she was
speaking out to raise awareness about the issue of wheelchair access in the
workplace A trainee barrister claims she had a job interview cancelled when a
law firm found out she used a wheelchair. Holly Girven, 23, had applied for a
job in Sheffield working for a company which provides legal services for BT. Ms
Girven, from North Lincolnshire, asked about wheelchair access but says her
online interview was then cancelled as the office was not accessible. BT said
it was "conducting a full investigation", although the law firm has
not yet commented. Ms Girven said she also had a request to work remotely
turned down and described her experience as "upsetting". "They
had seen my CV," she said. "They said... we would like to interview
you and then to be rejected for something completely out of my control just seemed
really unfair."
'People really shocked' Ms Girven is now calling for a
requirement that job adverts should include information such as wheelchair
access and whether remote and flexible working is possible. In a
statement BT said: "We take these allegations, and our equal opportunity
policies, very seriously, and we expect everyone working with BT to comply with
these policies. We're concerned to hear any allegations where this may not have
been the case." "We're conducting a full investigation and
will ensure that Holly is kept updated on the progress of that
investigation." Ms Girven said she was speaking out to raise
awareness about the issue. "When I spoke to people about it a lot
of people were really shocked that that still happens," she said. "But
then speaking to other wheelchair users it's not a completely uncommon
experience." The BBC has contacted the law firm involved.
^ I believe the law firm involved
cancelled her appointment when she asked about wheelchair access – maybe they didn’t
want to get fined for not being accessible or maybe they just don’t like the
disabled. ^
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