New recommendation hub to assist disabled individuals perceive their rights at work

  • Ministers have announced the establishment of a new advice center to help people with disabilities understand their labor rights
  • The National Strategy for People with Disabilities launched today aims to remove barriers that disabled people face in all aspects of their lives – including work and business
  • The government will also propose measures to encourage flexible working hours, introduce care leave and consider further support for disabled entrepreneurs

A new counseling center will be set up to help people with disabilities understand their labor rights as part of plans to remove the barriers they face in work and the economy.

The online hub, a joint partnership between the Economic Department and the Advisory, Arbitration and Arbitration Service (Acas), offers both disabled people and employers clear advice on labor rights – from discrimination in the workplace to appropriate adjustments. It will go live today and for the first time bring the relevant information together in one place to ensure that people with disabilities can optimally exercise their rights in the workplace.

This is just one of the measures in the government’s new National Disability Strategy launched today, which aims to take concrete steps to improve the working lives of disabled people and carers and make the UK a great place to do business.

Economy Secretary Amanda Solloway said:

We want the UK to be the best place in the world for everyone to work and do business – and removing the barriers that people with disabilities face will be essential if we are to achieve that goal.

From the new one-stop shop for employment advice to parental leave, we hope these changes will really change the working lives of people with disabilities and caregivers.

Acas CEO Susan Clews said:

Our new hub explains how the law protects disabled people from discrimination in the workplace and what fundamental rights they are entitled to.

It’s also a great resource for employers to help them create diverse, inclusive workplaces that welcome disabled people and promote equal opportunities for all employees.

Advice on the Hub includes tips on how to prevent disability discrimination, make appropriate adjustments, and how employees can file complaints about disability discrimination in the workplace.

As part of the strategy, the government will also consider what additional targeted support should be provided for disabled people in the workplace as well as entrepreneurs wishing to start their own business.

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By the end of 2021, the Economics Department will publish proposals to improve access to finance and business support for disabled entrepreneurs after engaging with disabled entrepreneurs and stakeholders with disabilities.

The government’s new Help to Grow: Management program also offers small business owners a 12-week management training program, 90% funded by the government, which combines online sessions with face-to-face teaching. The program has been designed so that participants can complete it alongside full-time employment.

Workers rights

In order to give disabled people and carers the flexibility they need in their working lives, the Economic Department will also launch a consultation on the introduction of flexible working hours as the standard, unless employers have good reason not to do so.

Flexible working, which includes a variety of time and place of work arrangements – from working from home to job sharing and flexitime – can benefit a wide variety of people, including people with disabilities and caregivers.

To further support unpaid caregivers, the government will also introduce an obligation to introduce statutory vacation entitlement for an additional week of unpaid vacation per year to assist them with their additional duties.

This new entitlement, following a consultation last year, will help unpaid caregivers stay gainfully employed and balance their care responsibilities.

Additional information

  • The counseling center provides advice to people with disabilities in England, Scotland and Wales. In Northern Ireland. Advice from the Equal Opportunities Commission for Northern Ireland
  • The government’s new Help to Grow: Management program offers small business owners the opportunity to take their business to the next level through a hands-on management training program. Visit the Help to Grow website for more information.

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