Disabled workers are still being discriminated against by employers despite legislation to prevent this, according to a report from the Trades Union Congress. It said that health and safety issues are being used to refuse jobs to disabled people despite the protection of the Disability and Discrimination Act 1995.
Source: Disability and Safety Working Together, Trades Union Congress (020 7467 1294)
Links: Report (pdf)
Date: 2002-Dec
An annual survey found a sharp growth in the number of employers with a policy on disability.
Source: 'Managing Disability 2002', in IRS Employment Review 762, 21.10.02, IRS Employment Review (020 7354 6742)
Links: Guardian report
Date: 2002-Oct
Researchers evaluated the Access to Work programme, designed to reduce inequalities between disabled people and non-disabled people in the workplace.
Source: Patricia Thornton and Anne Corden, Evaluating the Impact of Access to Work: A Case Study Approach, WAE 138, Department for Work and Pensions (0114 259 6278)
Links: Report (pdf) | Summary (pdf)
Date: 2002-Sep
In order to provide a baseline for measuring the effectiveness of the Work Preparation programme (designed to overcome obstacles to disabled people taking up or returning to work), a study examined the relationship between the nature of the provision, user characteristics, and outcomes in three regions.
Source: Pauline Banks, Sheila Riddell and Patricia Thornton, Good Practice in Work Preparation: Lessons from Research, WAE 135, Department for Work and Pensions (0114 259 6278)
Links: Report (pdf) | Summary (pdf)
Date: 2002-Aug
According to autumn 2001 Labour Force Survey data, nearly one in five people of working age in private households have a current long-term disability (3.7 million men and 3.4 million women). The overall unemployment rate (International Labour Office definition) for disabled people was 8.3 per cent compared with 4.8 per cent for non-disabled people in autumn 2001.
Source: Allan Smith and Breda Twomey, 'Labour market experiences of people with disabilities', Labour Market Trends, August 2002, Office for National Statistics, TSO (0870 600 5522)
Links: Article (pdf)
Date: 2002-Aug
Research found that most leading organisations recognise developing diversity as important to their success.
Source: The Business of Diversity: How Organisations in the Public & Private Sectors are Integrating Equality and Diversity to Enhance Business Performance, Schneider-Ross (01264 882400)
Links: Summary
See also: Journal of Social Policy Volume 31/3, Digest 123 (paragraph 7.2)
Date: 2002-Jun
A study evaluated a supported employment project aimed at helping people with learning disabilities fill jobs in unsegregated workplaces.
Source: S. Jones et al., Making it Work: Strategies for Success in Supported Employment for People with Learning Difficulties, Pavilion Publishing (for Joseph Rowntree Foundation), available from York Publishing Services Ltd. (01904 431213)
Links: JRF Findings 622
See also: Journal of Social Policy Volume 30/3, Digest 119 (paragraph 7.5)
Date: 2002-Jun
A book examined work incentives for disabled people using personal assistance, and charging for support packages.
Source: Marilyn Howard, Not Just the Job: Report of a Working Group on Disabled People Using Personal Assistance and Work Incentives, York Publishing Services for Joseph Rowntree Foundation, available from York Publishing Services Ltd (01904 431213)
Links: Summary
See also: Journal of Social Policy Volume 31/4, Digest 124 (paragraph 7.5)
Date: 2002-May