How to ask for reasonable adjustments at work: wording that works

What should you say when you ask for reasonable adjustments?

Say what gets in the way, what would help, and how that helps the employer too, then ask for a meeting.

That is the shape of Acas's free request template, which has nine parts: the date, who it is going to, how your health affects your work, your current role and working pattern, the adjustments you are asking for and why, how the change could help the employer, how any effect on others could be handled, a request to meet, and your name.

Two things in that list are worth underlining. First, you ask for specific changes. "Better support" gives a manager nothing to say yes to; "written instructions after meetings" does. Second, you say what is in it for them. Acas's own example is an employee who would feel less rushed and work more steadily. Employers say yes more readily to something they can picture.

What does a request look like in practice?

Short, plain and about the work. Here is an email you can adapt. It is our wording, not Acas's.

Subject: Request to discuss a workplace adjustment

Hi [name],

I would like to ask for a small change to how I work, and to arrange a time to talk it through.

[One sentence on the barrier, in terms of the work. For example: Open-plan noise makes it hard for me to keep hold of detailed tasks.]

What I think would help: [one or two specific changes. For example: a desk away from the kitchen and printer, and permission to wear headphones at my desk.]

It would help me because [the effect on your work. For example: I would finish detailed work faster and make fewer errors].

If anything about this causes a problem for the team, I am happy to look at other options. Could we meet this week or next?

Thanks, [your name]

You do not have to name your diagnosis. Acas says disclosure is your choice, though naming it can help the employer understand. If you do name it, keep it to one line.

Should you ask in writing or in person?

Either works. Acas says you can ask in writing, in a meeting or through a formal process, and to talk to your manager or employer as soon as possible.

Writing suits people who find a face-to-face ask hard, and it gives you a dated record. A conversation is quicker and lets you hear the objection. Many people do both: send the email, then discuss it in the meeting it asks for. Afterwards, Acas says the employer should confirm what was agreed in writing, and it has a confirmation letter template for that. If they do not send one, you can write a short summary yourself and ask them to confirm it.

What does the employer have to do?

They must make reasonable adjustments if they know, or could reasonably be expected to know, that you are disabled. They pay for them.

According to Acas, the employer should arrange a meeting, listen to how things affect you, avoid assumptions and take the lead from you, because you may know best what helps. They can consider medical advice, such as occupational health or a letter from your doctor. They weigh whether the change would reduce the disadvantage, is practical and affordable, and would not harm anyone's health and safety. They cannot be asked to change the basic nature of the job.

The legal test of disability under the Equality Act 2010 is a physical or mental impairment with a substantial and long-term effect on normal daily activities. Substantial means more than minor, and long-term means 12 months or more. The GOV.UK page does not name ADHD or autism, and it does not say a formal diagnosis is required, so if you are unsure whether you meet the definition, ask Acas.

What if the answer is no?

Ask for the reasons, and ask what else they could do.

Acas says an employer is not obliged to make adjustments that are unreasonable, but should still look for other reasonable support. If a change conflicts with someone else's needs, they should try to find a solution that works for everyone, and consider legal advice before refusing. We could not confirm from the Acas pages we read what the formal next steps are, so call the Acas helpline for your own case.

Does Access to Work change how you ask?

It runs alongside. Access to Work is a government grant, and GOV.UK says it does not pay for reasonable adjustments, which your employer must make.

So ask your employer for the adjustments, and apply to Access to Work for things such as specialist equipment, assistive software or a support worker. The queue for the grant is long; our waiting times guide has the latest official figures.

Things to know

• This is information, not legal advice. The law depends on your facts. Acas gives free advice on your own case.
• Keep copies. Save what you sent and what you got back, with dates.
• Do not wait for the perfect wording. A plain request that names one change is better than a long one that never goes out.
• Tool caution. If you use an AI rewriter, read the result closely. It can change what you meant to say.