February 2023
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This conference examined priorities for supporting workplace rights and inclusion for people with disabilities.
It came as the Government’s National Disability Strategy continues to be implemented in part, with some sections paused due to legal challenges and High Court ruling.
It was an opportunity to consider key issues in taking forward policies to improve the experience of work for people with disabilities, the resulting barriers employers may face, and latest thinking on implementing measures including:
- building engagement with disabled workers
- progression and retention
- identifying reasonable adjustments
Further discussion focused on the policy priorities for taking forward measures highlighted in the National Disability Strategy, as well as its future place in the Government’s commitment to improving working conditions for disabled people.
Delegates also considered priorities for tackling financial barriers to inclusion and employment opportunities in the context of ongoing challenges to living costs, as well as the key issues for an Extra Costs Taskforce, currently under review by the Cabinet Office and BEIS.
Overall, sessions in the agenda included:
- the National Disability Strategy: taking forward policy - impact of the judicial review - implementing whole-organisation changes - improving workplace practices
- engagement: building awareness of disability in the workplace - representing lived experience - building on the Disability Confident campaign
- financial barriers: workplace accessibility - rise in living costs - the role of accessible technology - flexible working patterns
- progression and retention: inclusive recruitment practices - improving opportunities for promotion - priorities for training and development - priorities for HR policy implementation
- reasonable adjustments: new considerations for equality duties - integrating measures into organisational policy - occupational health and therapy - best practice and use of innovation
We are pleased to have been able to include keynote addresses from Rebecca Thomas, Head of Employment Policy, Equality and Human Rights Commission; Julie Dennis, Head of Diversity & Inclusion, Acas; Angela Matthews, Head of Policy and Research, Business Disability Forum; Emma Mitchell, Talent Director, EY; Helen Musgrove, Director of Psychological consulting, Lexxic; Peter Hamilton, Head of Market Engagement, Zurich Insurance; and Disability and Access Ambassador for Insurance, Government Disability Unit, Cabinet Office; and Professor Kim Hoque, Professor of Human Resource Management, King’s Business School.
The conference was an opportunity for stakeholders to consider the issues alongside key policy officials who attended from BEIS; the CPS; DCMS; Department for Education; Department for the Economy, NI; DHSC; DfT; DWP; HMPPS; HMRC; Home Office; The Scottish Government; and the Welsh Government.
