- Conference
- 2024 National Disabled Members' Conference
- Date
- 5 July 2024
- Decision
- Carried
Government initiatives must deliver support within a reasonable time limit and Disabled people should not experience delays in obtaining identified support required in work as part of their reasonable adjustments.
In 2019 Disability and employment statistics (Office of National Statistics) show that over 4.2 million disabled people were employment in the UK. While this figure illustrates an appetite for employment among disabled people, it is sobering and disappointing to report that disabled people are still less likely to be employed than non-disabled people, with an employment rate for disabled people (aged 16 to 64 years) of 53.2% in 2019, compared with 81.8% for non-disabled people.
In Supporting Disabled People, the Equality Act 2010 states that employers must make ‘reasonable adjustments’ for Disabled Employees. The UK Department for Work and Pensions Health Passport and Access to Work Scheme provides support for people with disabilities. Here Disabled People can find help identify what support is required and obtain financial support in the form of a grant to help pay for the practical support. It is important to place emphasis here that employers should not be using this as a substitute for their legal obligation to make reasonable adjustments or to pay for them.
Currently (June 2024), Access to Work (ATW) are working to a 26-week response rate to Applications for support. This is alarming and waiting on a response for over 6-month is ridiculous. As a result, unscrupulous employers are taking their time in stalling on providing ‘reasonable adjustment’ support to disabled employees that has been found, and that is needed for disabled people in supporting them whilst in employment. Employers waiting for a response from ATW towards supplying approval towards the cost support identified as being reasonable adjustments that have been previously agreed.
Conference believes that Disabled People should be supported by their employers without delay throughout their employment journey and that more needs to be done to increase the employment rate for disabled people. It is about time Disabled People were provided with the equal opportunities in gaining and keeping meaningful employment.
This Conference calls upon the National Disabled Members Committee to:
1)Continue to promote and support UNISONs disability passport and bargaining guide on reasonable adjustments in regions and branches.
2)Campaign with the support of the National Executive Council to reduce response times to reasonable adjustment requests and decrease time taken to implement by employers.
3)Work with UNISON National Labour Link to explore the wider adoption of ‘reasonable adjustment passports’ across all employers.