Government must tackle disability employment gap

At a time of unprecedented political uncertainty, the charity has called for a raft of measures that will ensure previous commitments to tackle the employment gap between disabled and non-disabled people are realised.

In March, Amber Rudd, the former Secretary of State for Work and Pensions made a speech on disability and the welfare system with the intention of ‘changing the landscape for disabled people in Britain’. In just over three years, five MPs have held the position of Secretary of State for Work and Pensions.  

Around 7.7 million people of working age in the UK are disabled or have a long-term health condition. Yet just over half are in employment despite overall UK employment rates being at more than 80%. Despite some progress the overall gap in employment rates between disabled and non-disabled people shows little sign of being closed significantly.

This year, the independent National Audit Office concluded the DWP had limited evidence that its programmes were effective, so these need urgent review.

The NAO’s ‘Supporting disabled people to work’ report said:

‘Two years into the 10-year period of the goal [securing employment for one million more disabled people by 2017], the government has not yet developed a full implementation plan to achieve it.’

Leonard Cheshire has now called for a stronger and more coordinated approach by the government – including changes to legislation and a revolution in the support available to employers – if ambitions are to translate into reality for disabled people.

Poor data on disability employment is hampering efforts. One year on from the launch of a voluntary government scheme encouraging companies to report on disability, mental health and wellbeing there’s little evidence of widespread take up.

Leonard Cheshire now wants reporting to be mandatory. Mandatory reporting on gender pay gaps in workplaces has resulted in 10,000 employers publishing this information. A similar approach to shine a spotlight on disability employment rates is now needed so that companies are accountable. 

Only last week, a parliamentary question for the charity by Daniel Zeichner MP revealed the government does not hold information on the overall number of disabled people leaving work because of their disability or long-term health condition. This is despite seven in 10 disabled people telling Leonard Cheshire earlier this year that they had done so. 

Vinny, from Liverpool, stopped working due to a health condition. Vinny said:

‘I was rendered medically retired because they didn’t know what else to do with me. I didn’t fit into their structures Developing understanding in the workplace is a cultural shift and one that needs to accelerate now.’

Neil Heslop, Chief Executive at Leonard Cheshire, said:

‘Government needs to match the rhetoric with clarity on its commitments to disabled people.

‘Having a talented group of people not getting jobs or falling out of work damages individuals, families and is a huge loss to the economy.  

‘We need hard hitting measures backed by the full powers of the State. The disability employment gap has been a badge of failure for successive occupants of Number 10. It flies in the face of ambitions for a post Brexit inclusive economy.

‘After many false dawns the government must get a handle on this issue in the same way other social injustices and discrimination have been tackled.’ 

On Monday, a government consultation concluded. ‘Health is everyone’s business’ asked for views on proposals to reduce ill health-related job loss.

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For further information please contact Robert Boyland on robert.boyland@leonardcheshire.org or call 020 3242 0399

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