- Conference
- 2018 National Disabled Members' Conference
- Date
- 6 July 2018
- Decision
- Carried as Amended
Disability leave is time off from work for a reason related to someone’s disability.
Employees with a disability may require time off if their mobility, or their illness – relating to their disability, becomes more severe. Our disabled members in this situation are frequently treated unfavourably and this then becomes inequality, even though the Equality Act 2010 makes it unlawful to discriminate against employees because of a disability.
If jointly negotiated workplace policies are in place, then this helps to alleviate this practice that can take place by employers. The procedures in the policy would give guidance to managers and staff.
However, it is known that many employers do not have a disability leave policy and that is why conference should pursue this.
Therefore, conference calls upon the national disabled members committee to
1. Collect information from branches to identify how many negotiated policies on disability leave exist and which employers have an existing disability leave policy in the workplace, and share good practise.
2. Circulate to branches the UNISON disability leave factsheet and urge them to raise and negotiate disability leave policies with their employers, where one does not exist
3. Encourage branches to develop disability leave policies with employers.
4. Campaign for disability leave to be a statutory requirement written into legislation.