DWP steering group urges employers to help break the ‘glass ceiling’ of disability discrimination.
The DWP disability steering group has urged employers to do much more than they are currently doing to improve both the employability and job prospects of the disabled, citing the following significant figures:
- Disabled people’s employment has gradually increased, from 40.9% at the end of 1998 to 46.8% at the end of 2010.
- Disabled people make up 18% of the working-age population – that is over seven million people.
- Around 15% of people with learning disabilities are in paid work (Labour Force Survey).
- When compared to non-disabled men, disabled men have a pay gap of 11% and disabled women have a pay gap of 22%.
- 56% of disabled people compared with 26% of non-disabled people report restrictions on the amount or type of work they can do.
- Once in work disabled people are less likely to progress to senior roles. Non- disabled people are three times more likely to earn over £80,000.
- Access to Work helps disabled people find and stay in jobs and Government will spend around £100m on it this year.
- Closing the employment gap between disabled people and non-disabled people would boost the economy by £13bn.
The steering group also gives some timely pointers about employing people with disabilities like:
- Do not discriminate against disabled people on things like application forms, interview arrangements, job offers, and terms of employment (including pay) – not only is it not fair, it is against the law.
- Don’t define a disabled person by their impairment and assume what they can’t do. Talk to them instead about what they CAN DO.
- Address disabled employees in the same way as you would address all other employees.
- Disabled employees should have the same opportunities for training and career progression as all non-disabled employees,
- Be as flexible as possible – you are required to make reasonable adjustment by law which could include providing flexible working hours or support equipment.
- Find out more about Access to Work – this could cover the costs of the specialist equipment that is needed to help an employee to do their job or get into work.
After all an employer wants to obtain the best person for the job advertised and therefore should look at the capabilities and skills of the person NOT any disabilities they might have.
David Healey
Project Support Officer
