Robin Millar, the blind pop producer behind hits for Sade, Boy George, and Fine Young Cannibals, is taking legal action against the owners of the music business he co-founded, alleging a lack of workplace support after major surgery. Millar, who also chairs the disability charity Scope, said he was denied a request for a support worker following cancer surgery that left him with mobility challenges.
Legal Proceedings Initiated
Millar announced on LinkedIn that he had "with great reluctance" issued proceedings in an employment tribunal against Blue Raincoat Music and its current ownership, Reservoir Media. The claims include disability discrimination, victimisation, and exclusion. He described it as "an extraordinarily painful step to take" but emphasised the need to highlight that even disabled people in senior roles can face challenging workplace situations.
"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," Millar wrote.
Career and Advocacy
Millar produced 44 No. 1 hits in the 1980s and co-founded Blue Raincoat Music in 2014, which later merged with Reservoir Media. He has been a vocal disability rights campaigner, chairing Scope since 2020. He previously made informal and formal requests for workplace support during his recovery but was denied. Preliminary hearings are scheduled for next week.
"I have spent much of my life building inclusive businesses and advocating for disabled people, and I continue to believe something very simple: inclusion is not charity and it is not political correctness. It is good leadership, good culture and good business," he added.
Reservoir Media Response
A Reservoir spokesperson 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." They declined further comment due to ongoing proceedings.
Wider Context
Millar’s case comes as MPs warn that disabled people often 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, said: "A major reason disabled people are much less likely to be in work or stay in work is the lack of accessibility of workplaces."
The committee’s report noted that one in 10 disabled people leave work each year, compared with one in 20 non-disabled people, and that accessibility is often not seen as a priority by businesses.
