Employers must ensure equal treatment is provided for all employees, and aware of their obligations under the Disability Discrimination Act, urged Allianz Cornhill Legal Protection.
The company's head of Lawphone, Sheena MacGregor warned that companies could be guilty of discrimination by not providing sufficient access or furniture for disabled employees.
Firms could also be guilty of discrimination by using inflexible selection procedures, such as written tests which would hinder those with visual impairments, said MacGregor.
"Businesses are finding it harder and harder to avoid liability and discrimination offences. With current exemptions being systematically removed, such as exempting small businesses employing less than 15 people, which will end in 2004, discrimination is being clamped down on, and the penalties for employers breaking the law can be severe," said MacGregor.
