There are 3.4 million people with a disability or long-term health condition already working in the UK.
Another 1 million are currently out of work and on benefits but want a job. That's over 1 million disabled people looking to work in companies of all sizes and in all sectors. By ignoring potential employees, companies are missing out on a large pool of talent, skills and expertise.
The Disability Discrimination Act, which applies to organisations irrespective of their size, makes it unlawful for employers to discriminate against current or potential workers who have a disability, as defined by the Act. Employers also have a duty under the Act to make reasonable adjustments to practice and also to the physical features of their premises, where these are substantially disadvantaging people with disabilities.
Organisations that actively recruit and support employees with disabilities and health conditions generally have good people management systems. They retain expertise and skills, omprove staff morale and enhance their public reputation.
In addition, when disability and health are properly managed, disabled employees tend to take less time sick leave than their non-disabled colleagues and stay with employers for longer. Making reasonable adjustments to keep an employee, who has developed a disability or health condition, will almost always cost less than having to recruit and train a replacement. Advice and funding can be obtained by contacting Jobcentre Plus and asking about their Access to Work scheme.
Adjustments that are made for people with a disability or health condition can benefit other employees and/or customers. As an organisation becomes more disability aware, these changes become part of a mainstream activities - just the way things are done - and this is to everyone's benefit.
Links
- Access to Work
- Provides advice and practical support to disabled people and their employers.
- Capability Scotland
- Capability Scotland works with children, adults and families living with disabilities to support them in their everyday lives.
- Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform
- Employers Forum on Disability
- Employment Opportunities for People with Disabilities
- Employment Opportunities for People with Disabilities is the national charity dedicated to creating routes into employment for people with all disabilities and medical conditions.
- Disability Rights Taskforce
- Civil rights for disbabled people.
- Shaw Trust
- Shaw Trust is a national charity that provides training and work opportunities for people who are disadvantaged in the labour market due to disability, ill health or other social circumstances.
- Remploy
- Remploy is the market leading expert in the provision of specialist employment services for disabled people and those who experience complex barriers to employment.
- Disability Employment Advisory Committee
- Gives independent, informed advice to Ministers and government policy makers about helping disabled people find and keep work.
