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Regional Labor Court of the 3rd Region Condemns Company from Belo Horizonte to Compensate an Autistic Worker R$ 10,000 Dismissed Soon After Requesting Adjustments in the Work Environment.
A company from Belo Horizonte was condemned by the Labor Court to pay R$ 10,000 in compensation to an autistic worker. The employee had been dismissed about a month after submitting a medical report with recommendations for adjustments in his work routine.
The decision was announced this Friday (19) by the Regional Labor Court of the 3rd Region (TRT-MG) and can still be contested.
Request for Adjustments Ignored
According to the case, the worker occupied a position designated for people with disabilities and was even used in internal campaigns as an example of diversity.
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However, when requesting simple changes recommended by his doctor — such as softer ambient lighting, ergonomic chair, regular breaks, and support in social interactions — his request was not met.
The company, instead of implementing the adjustments, offered the alternative of remote work, an option that had not been suggested in the medical report.
Company’s Arguments and Court’s Position
The company claimed that the dismissal was part of an organizational restructuring, but this argument was not proven in the case.
For the court, there was serious omission and lack of a plausible justification for the dismissal.
In the first instance, Judge Haydée Priscila Pinto Coelho de Sant’Ana, from the 31st Labor Court of Belo Horizonte, set the compensation at R$ 25,000.
In a subsequent ruling, the amount was reduced to R$ 10,000 by the TRT-MG.
Court’s Understanding
The judges emphasized that the company failed to fulfill its legal obligation to ensure inclusion and accessibility.
They also highlighted that the medical report presented had clear and feasible recommendations, but no actions were taken to address them.
For the panel, the dismissal occurring shortly after the request for adjustments was discriminatory and violated the principle of the dignity of persons with disabilities, protected by national law and international agreements.
Impact of the Decision
The ruling reinforces that refusal to make reasonable adjustments is a form of discrimination.
It also highlights the employer’s responsibility to ensure appropriate conditions for the inclusion of autistic workers in the labor market.
The name of the company and the employee were not disclosed by the court.
Decision as a Reference for Other Cases
In reviewing the case, the TRT-MG stressed that similar situations should be treated with special attention by companies.
The court emphasized that denying adjustments suggested by medical reports compromises not only the individual rights of the autistic worker but also the collective duty to promote inclusive work environments.
The decision, therefore, serves as a warning to employers about the need to comply with accessibility legislation and respect for persons with disabilities.
