Brazil court grants remote work and reduced hours to employee with autism

A Brazilian court has ruled in favor of a web developer with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), granting her the right to work entirely remotely and reducing her working hours by 30% without a salary reduction.

The employee, who works for the Regional Pharmacy Council of the State of São Paulo (CRF-SP), had her request for remote work denied in March 2022 when the company mandated a return to the office. Medical reports indicated that the office environment caused sensory overload, leading to anxiety, panic, and emotional exhaustion.

The court determined that the professional's duties could be performed remotely and noted that the employer had already demonstrated the capacity for remote work during the pandemic. In addition to the structural changes, the ruling ordered the payment of R$ 10,000 in moral damages and unpaid wages for the period the worker was sidelined without compensation.