Robin Millar, the renowned blind pop producer who shaped the sound of the 1980s with artists like Sade, Boy George, and Fine Young Cannibals, is launching a legal battle against the owners of the music business he co-founded. The dispute centers on allegations that the company failed to provide adequate workplace support following his major surgery.
Legal Action Over Workplace Support
Millar, who served as executive chair of Blue Raincoat Music until last year, claims his request for a support worker to assist with mobility challenges after cancer surgery was denied. He described the decision to pursue legal action as "an extraordinarily painful step" but emphasized the need to highlight that even senior disabled professionals can face "challenging workplace situations."
In a LinkedIn post, Millar expressed disappointment: "You hope for loyalty. You hope for humanity. You hope somebody says: ‘This matters. Let’s sit down together and work out what support looks like.’ Too often that does not happen." He revealed that with "great reluctance," he had initiated proceedings at an employment tribunal, alleging disability discrimination, victimization, and exclusion.
A Call for Inclusion
Millar, who has chaired the disability charity Scope since 2020, stressed that inclusion is not charity or political correctness but "good leadership, good culture, and good business." He noted that his instinct had always been to minimize the personal impact of disability, but advocacy work and conversations with other disabled people led him to speak out, acknowledging that fear of repercussions is real.
Background and Impact
Millar produced 44 No. 1 hits before co-founding Blue Raincoat Music in 2014. The company later merged with US-based Reservoir Media, where Millar continued to co-run day-to-day operations. He is a high-profile disability rights campaigner, often urging employers to recruit and retain disabled workers. Last year, he revealed that both informal and formal requests for workplace support during his recovery were denied, but he initially chose not to take legal action. Preliminary hearings are now scheduled for next week.
A spokesperson for Reservoir Media stated: "We are aware of Sir Robin Millar’s claims and strongly maintain that we have acted with integrity and in accordance with all relevant employment legislation and the Equality Act. We are confident the facts will support a favourable resolution."
Broader Workplace Issues
Millar’s case comes amid warnings from MPs that many disabled people face a "hostile environment" at work due to employers’ reluctance to make reasonable adjustments. Debbie Abrahams, chair of the Commons work and pensions select committee, noted that a major reason disabled people are less likely to stay employed is the lack of workplace accessibility. She stated: "Although there is a legal duty to provide reasonable adjustments for disabled workers, in too many cases this isn’t happening."
The committee’s report highlighted that one in 10 disabled people leave work each year, compared with one in 20 non-disabled people. The Cabinet Office was approached for comment but has not yet responded.
