Disability Discrimination - We need to talk

A troubling survey by recruitment business Reed in association with Disability Rights UK has shown that of 300 businesses surveyed:

• 9% of employers said their business was not able to support an employee with a disability or health condition.
• 26% said it was challenging to discuss the management of disabilities.
• 19% said that the cost of modifying equipment makes it expensive to employ disabled people.
• 47% said that it would help if job applicants were more willing to be open about their health condition.

It is clear there is uncertainty on all sides and that recruiters, line-managers and job applicants need help to build confidence.

Access to Work is a state funded scheme which offers grants to eligible people with a disability or health condition to start work, stay in work or move into self-employment.

The grant (which can be up to £40,800 per year and does not have to be paid back) can pay for:

• adaptations to equipment
• special equipment
• fares to work if public transport cannot be used
• a support worker or job coach to help in the workplace
• a support service if the employee is absent from work or finding it difficult to work
• disability awareness training for colleagues
• a communicator at a job interview
• the cost of moving equipment following a location or job change.

For more information on Access to Work see: https://www.gov.uk/access-to-work/what-youll-get.

In the survey 31% of employers said that businesses are worried that disabled people will claim discrimination if the job does not work out. The law protects disabled employees but it also exists to protect innocent employers. 

For more information and advice, please contact employment.law@emsleys.co.uk or call 0113 232 1030.

(For the full survey see: http://www.disabilityrightsuk.org/sites/default/files/pdf/DIsability%20and%20Employment%20V7.pdf)