[UK] What the new National Disability strategy means for disabled people at work

In July, the UK Government published the new National Disability Strategy. The strategy covers education, travel, work, home and social life. The Broadcasting, Entertainment, Communications and Theatre Union (Bectu) welcomes the move to the social model of disability but wonders how much of a difference the strategy will make for disabled people in the workplace. Bectu explores the possibilities further below. 

Since the introduction of the Disability Discrimination Act 1995 and, more recently, the Equality Act 2010, Prospect and disabled workers have been pushing for true equality in the workplace; a goal previous legislation and strategies have failed to achieve. Accessibility has been at the heart of Bectu’s work. 

Getting jobs 

A disability employment gap exists and the UK and devolved governments have previously put measures in place to close it. Yet disabled people still earn 20 per cent less than their non-disabled peers, a figure equal to £2.10 an hour, or £3,822 a year based on a 35-hour working week. The new National Disability Strategy promises more support to help disabled people into work, as well as help securing new work following the loss of a job, Bectu hopes this can go some way towards closing the gap. 

There are proposed changes to Access to Work, including the use of an Access to Work Adjustments Passport. This would work on the same premise as the Reasonable Adjustment Passports for the workplace; a measure Prospect supports. Tailored specialist aid and appliances will follow the passport holder when they change jobs. 

Getting to work 

Public transport, although more accessible today, continues to pose real challenges to disabled people and there is a long way to go until it is fully accessible. The strategy looks at how public transport can be improved, including bringing in a statutory duty for rail to improve accessibility. 

There are also welcome acknowledgements that the infrastructure needs improving in addition to the vehicles and some improvements to the rail network have been ongoing since 2006. However, more progress is needed and unions must be among the leading voices in campaigning for them. 

While in work 

Bectu says news that there will be a review of the Disability Confident Scheme is welcome. Yet there is no mention of moving from employers’ self-assessment so it hopes that other options for objectively measuring how well those signed up to the scheme are doing are sought. 

The necessity is not only to get disabled workers into jobs but to keep them in work. This is important because disabled workers may reportedly find themselves going through capability or sickness absence procedures, which can conclude in job loss.   

The strategy does recognise the importance of keeping disabled people in work. One of the measures outlined is flexible working as the default position, with employers requiring a good reason to decline it. Currently, flexible working is something we can all apply for and may, in some cases, be a reasonable adjustment. Employers can, for business reasons (among others), decline flexible working as it stands. 

The strategy includes measures to improve access to employment rights information and there is mention of “advice hubs” with ACAS. 

Missed opportunity 

Bectu says it is a missed opportunity that the report talks a lot about accessibility and inclusivity but does not seem to add a great deal to the Equality Act 2010 or disabled workers’ rights. As long as sickness and capability procedures remain, disabled workers are going to continue to find themselves being managed out of work. 

The union found it interesting to note that the government failed to directly engage with the TUC and the TUC Disabled Workers Committee as part of the process. Is says anyone seeking to improve the workplace for disabled people cannot overlook unions and their wealth of knowledge and experience. Nothing about us, without us. 

Ultimately Bectu believes there is still a lot in this strategy to be hopeful about. Especially, if it is viewed as just the start of the process. Recognising barriers disabled workers face is a significant step in the right direction. 

In July, the UK Government published the new National Disability Strategy. The strategy covers education, travel, work, home and social life. The Broadcasting, Entertainment, Communications and Theatre Union (Bectu) welcomes the move to the social model of disability but wonders how much of a difference the strategy will make for disabled people in the workplace. Bectu explores the possibilities further below. 

Since the introduction of the Disability Discrimination Act 1995 and, more recently, the Equality Act 2010, Prospect and disabled workers have been pushing for true equality in the workplace; a goal previous legislation and strategies have failed to achieve. Accessibility has been at the heart of Bectu’s work. 

Getting jobs 

A disability employment gap exists and the UK and devolved governments have previously put measures in place to close it. Yet disabled people still earn 20 per cent less than their non-disabled peers, a figure equal to £2.10 an hour, or £3,822 a year based on a 35-hour working week. The new National Disability Strategy promises more support to help disabled people into work, as well as help securing new work following the loss of a job, Bectu hopes this can go some way towards closing the gap. 

There are proposed changes to Access to Work, including the use of an Access to Work Adjustments Passport. This would work on the same premise as the Reasonable Adjustment Passports for the workplace; a measure Prospect supports. Tailored specialist aid and appliances will follow the passport holder when they change jobs. 

Getting to work 

Public transport, although more accessible today, continues to pose real challenges to disabled people and there is a long way to go until it is fully accessible. The strategy looks at how public transport can be improved, including bringing in a statutory duty for rail to improve accessibility. 

There are also welcome acknowledgements that the infrastructure needs improving in addition to the vehicles and some improvements to the rail network have been ongoing since 2006. However, more progress is needed and unions must be among the leading voices in campaigning for them. 

While in work 

Bectu says news that there will be a review of the Disability Confident Scheme is welcome. Yet there is no mention of moving from employers’ self-assessment so it hopes that other options for objectively measuring how well those signed up to the scheme are doing are sought. 

The necessity is not only to get disabled workers into jobs but to keep them in work. This is important because disabled workers may reportedly find themselves going through capability or sickness absence procedures, which can conclude in job loss.   

The strategy does recognise the importance of keeping disabled people in work. One of the measures outlined is flexible working as the default position, with employers requiring a good reason to decline it. Currently, flexible working is something we can all apply for and may, in some cases, be a reasonable adjustment. Employers can, for business reasons (among others), decline flexible working as it stands. 

The strategy includes measures to improve access to employment rights information and there is mention of “advice hubs” with ACAS. 

Missed opportunity 

Bectu says it is a missed opportunity that the report talks a lot about accessibility and inclusivity but does not seem to add a great deal to the Equality Act 2010 or disabled workers’ rights. As long as sickness and capability procedures remain, disabled workers are going to continue to find themselves being managed out of work. 

The union found it interesting to note that the government failed to directly engage with the TUC and the TUC Disabled Workers Committee as part of the process. Is says anyone seeking to improve the workplace for disabled people cannot overlook unions and their wealth of knowledge and experience. Nothing about us, without us. 

Ultimately Bectu believes there is still a lot in this strategy to be hopeful about. Especially, if it is viewed as just the start of the process. Recognising barriers disabled workers face is a significant step in the right direction.