United Kingdom

Disability Definition

A physical or mental impairment (excluding addiction, hay fever, tendency to set fires (pyromania), tendency to steal (kleptomania), tendency toward physical or sexual abuse, exhibitionism, and voyeurism) that has a “substantial” and “long-term” negative effect on one’s ability to do normal daily activities, “substantial “ meaning more than minor or trivial (e.g. it takes much longer than it usually would to complete a daily task like getting dressed) and “long-term” meaning one year or longer.

Employer Legal Requirements

Employers are obligated to make reasonable adjustments (i.e. accommodations) during the recruitment process and in the workplace, under the Equality Act 2010.

Allow employees with disabilities to do things another way –e.g., allow someone with social anxiety disorder to have their own desk instead of hot-desking or hoteling.

Make physical changes –e.g., install a ramp for a wheelchair user or an audio-visual fire alarm for a deaf person.

Let a person with a disability work somewhere else –e.g., on the ground floor or remotely for a wheelchair user.

Change their equipment –e.g., provide a special keyboard if someone has arthritis.

Allow employees who become disabled to make a phased return to work – e.g., work flexible hours or part-time.

Offer employees training opportunities, recreation, and refreshment facilities.

There are no direct financial wage subsidies or tax incentives for employers to hire disabled people, although some assistance is available with reasonable accommodations.

Cultural Norms

The UK, with a universal healthcare system and relatively favorable cultural attitudes toward mental health conditions, offers a promising landscape for individuals with disabilities seeking equal opportunities for employment.

Some believe that the UK’s longstanding cultural tendency toward politeness and respect for personal boundaries may make inexperienced managers unsure of themselves around employees with disabilities. They may be disinclined to address needs or voice questions, especially among those with physical and visible disabilities.

Insights

In the UK, 1 in 5 people has a disability for Disability Statistics compendium from GOV.UK (or 1 in 6 people per Leonard Chesire)

The UK is ahead of the curve when it comes to invisible disabilities. There are higher disclosure rates to HR for invisible disabilities than in the U.S. (29% in the UK sample vs. 13% in the U.S.), and 34% of those in the UK sample who have mental health conditions feel they’re being promoted quickly (vs. 26% in the U.S.).

The UK is not necessarily ahead when it comes to disability in general. In the UK sample, 33% of employees with disabilities who haven’t disclosed a disability say they haven’t told others because there is a stigma around it (vs. 26% in the U.S.). Further, 40% of employees in the UK sample regularly feel nervous or anxious at work (vs. 35% in the U.S.).

By the age of 26 disabled people are nearly four times more likely to be unemployed than their able-bodied peers.

Department for Work and Pensions oversees the Disability Confident scheme https://disabilityconfident.campaign.gov.uk/

Talent Sourcing Resources

Into Work is a charity – a non-profit organisation. We have many years’ experience helping people with long-term health conditions and disabilities achieve their goal of both finding and keeping a paid job https://www.intowork.org.uk/

Business Disability Forum is a nonprofit member organization supporting disability workforce inclusion by consulting, providing training, and facilitating networking opportunities. Formerly named the Employers’ Forum on Disability, the organization has contributed to the development of disability discrimination legislation in the UK.

Leonard Chesire Employment sourcing programs, including internship program (Change100) and placement program (Change London). Current partners include Accenture, Bank of America, GSK,

Scope: Through our Work With Me campaign with Virgin Media, we want to see more disabled people find and keep a job.

The National Autistic Society is a British charity for autistic people. The purpose of the organisation is to improve the lives of autistic people in the United Kingdom. Founded in 1962 as the Autistic Children’s Aid Society of North London, it has around 18,000 members. Provides assessments for employers and assists with recruitment, training and retention of autistic talent.

Centa Co and AutiQuest provide support for individuals with learning disabilities and autistics. AutiQuest lists employment services in particular and is building an App to support transition and placements. Inarm Osborn is the Founder of both organizations.

References

• Coqual – Disabilities & Inclusion Report
• GOV.UK Disability facts and figures Published 16 January 2014
• Mobile Industry Good Practice Guide for Service Delivery for Disabled and Elderly Customers in the UK