Editors blog: Exceptional candidates and where to find them
I’ve worked in a number of different careers over the years, and I’ve been fortunate to encounter a lot of great people whom I’ve had the pleasure of both employing and working with, some abled, some differently abled. One person I encountered along the way illustrates to me more than ever why broadening the talent pool is so vital for employers – because the label of a health condition or a syndrome does not...
As one in 5 workers have reasonable adjustment requests turned down, exactly how diverse are UK employers?
Guest blog by Kate Headley, the Clear Company It’s positive to see that disability confidence has become increasingly important to organisations of all shapes and sizes in recent years, and it’s also particularly encouraging that a greater number of employers now understand the importance of fostering inclusive recruitment practices. However, recent research shows there is some way to go. 58% of disabled workers fear losing...
Disability Works: How HR can break down workplace barriers with reasonable adjustments
Guest blog by Katharine McIntosh, Policy Officer at the MS Society When Chris was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis (MS) five years ago, his first reaction was that he would lose his job – but when he told his employers, they reassured him straight away that he would have a role with them for life. Unfortunately, positive responses like this aren’t as common as we’d like to see. A recent survey carried out by the MS Society...
Disabled welsh individuals and their carers set to lose vital support
A project created to support people with work limiting health conditions and their carers, many of whom juggle their caring responsibilities with employment, is set to lose funding. The Disability Advice Project (DAP) targeting indviduals living in the Bridgend, Neath and Port Talbot areas provides free life coaching which empowers people to gain confidence, achieve personal goals and improve their lives, as well as move towards...
DWP: Free employer toolkit set to boost disadvantaged groups in work
Businesses encouraged to hire more workers from disadvantaged groups, including single parents, homeless people and care leavers New toolkit offers practical advice for employers to attract and support a wider pool of talent Approach developed in partnership with industry leaders, including Sir Richard Branson and Deborah Meaden A first-of-its-kind employer toolkit designed to help businesses recruit and retain more single parents and...
If we strive to be truly diverse employers, why are we still so afraid of disabled employees?
Guest blog by Michelle Chance, Partner and Head of the London Employment Practice at national law firm Bond Dickinson LLP Government Consultation on Work, Health and Disability Green Paper I was delighted to participate in the Government’s Consultation on its Green Paper on Work, Health and Disability recently. A number of important action points for employers came out of our discussion, but, in my view, the Government needs to...
Discrimination: Employers still refusing to make reasonable adjustments, says Citizens Advice Cymru
Citizens Advice Cymru has released information which they say shows many people with disabilities are being prevented from working because employers are unwilling to make reasonable adjustments. In an interview with the BBC, policy officer Lindsey Kearton said lack of workplace support could have a ‘huge impact’ on the mental and physical health of those affected. Emma O’Leary is an employment law consultant for the ELAS Group. She...
Coutts Bank Invests in Disability Awareness Training with Enable Me
Enable Me, the charity dedicated to raising disability awareness, has recently provided training for Coutts – the UK’s private bank and wealth management organisation. Enable Me visited the bank’s central offices on The Strand, London to deliver its training to a group of employees from a range of departments, from senior level employees to graduate staff. The training focused on various themes, with Executive Chairman, Chris...
Mind your flipping language! The words HR should ban from the workplace
HR News Editor, Lisa Baker discusses acceptable workplace language and how, despite HR ‘talking the talk’, there is still a long way to go. Traditionally, New Year brings with it a spate of resolutions and personal goals to better ourselves, ranging from visiting the gym more often through to learning a new language (and yes, I’m on a new year diet like many of my colleagues at the Activ Absence office!) We’re...
New report sets out ways to reduce the disability employment gap
A new report published today calls for more practical solutions to close the disability employment gap. Closing the disability and employment gap is published by VODG (the Voluntary Organisations Disability Group), and outlines successful employment and training schemes delivered by specialist disability organisations. It includes recommendations for government, employers and care providers to boost employment for working-age disabled...
The workplaces that are shattering myths and promoting inclusivity
DS Workfit has seen more employers join the Workfit scheme, ensuring that more adults with Downs Syndrome are securing meaningful employment and training, challenging myths and misperceptions and generally improving the employment odds for adults with DS. Welsh politician Sara Pickard has achieved more than most despite having DS. She is a community councillor in her village, Pentyrch, and works for Llanishen-based charity Mencap...
MS Society backs MPs call for action on disability employment
The MS Society has welcomed a cross-party group of MPs and Peers calls for more to be done to address employment support for people with multiple sclerosis (MS). This follows the Government’s unveiling of a consultation document on work, health and disability. The All Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) for MS has concluded its year-long review into whether people with MS have the support they need to stay in, or get back into, work. The...
One in three businesses fails to support dementia sufferers at work
One in three British workers (33 per cent) say their employer fails to offer any additional help or support for dementia sufferers. In a study commissioned by PMI Health Group, part of Willis Towers Watson’s health and benefits team, seven per cent of employees said they either have, or work alongside someone who suffers from, dementia. More than half (54 per cent) of these workers, however, said they received no education or...
How employers can support arthritis sufferers to stay in work
Following the Health and Safety Executive’s finding that nine million working days are lost every year as a result of arthritis and other musculoskeletal conditions that have been caused or made worse by work, Judi Rhys, CEO at Arthritis Care, shares her thoughts on how organisations can better support and retain employees with arthritis. Arthritis is often overlooked as a condition; however, it affects one in five adults in...
Remploy leads on Disability Confidence
Remploy, the UK’s leading provider of specialist disability employment services, is one of only 13 companies in the UK to have been awarded ‘Leader’ status by the nationally renowned Disability Confident scheme operated by the Department for Work and Pensions. The accolade, which is the highest award, recognises an employer dedicated to supporting people with disabilities or health conditions in the workplace, as well as helping...
