The HSE has launched new guidelines to help employers support disabled people and those with long-term health conditions thrive at work
Disabled people and those with long-term health conditions will get more support from employers to help them succeed in the workplace thanks to new guidance.
The Health and Safety Executive (HSE), Great Britain’s workplace regulator, has issued guidelines that state what employers can do to support staff.
The UK has record rates of employment, but disabled people are less likely to be employed than non-disabled people and are twice as likely to fall out of work.
The new guidance stresses the importance of making sure workplaces are accessible, that staff communication is clear and inclusive, and appropriate occupational health support is available.
Helping people succeed at work is critical to growing the country’s economy, especially as firms are finding it more difficult to fill vacancies. There are seven objectives for employers to fulfil and guidance about how they can be achieved:
The 7 Targets for All Employers
- Create a supportive and enabling workplace
- Take an inclusive approach to workplace health
- Understand the work barriers that impact on workers
- Make suitable workplace adjustments or modifications
- Develop skills, knowledge and understanding
- Use effective and accessible communication
- Support sickness absence and return to work