Disabled workers and unpaid carers will be entitled to new employment rights under the Government’s new National Disability Strategy, it has been announced.
A new advice hub is also being launched to help employers and employees understand their rights and protections.
Unveiling the strategy last month, the Government said the new measures will help disabled people find work more easily and protect those already in work from discrimination.
These include:

• Flexible working: pending a consultation, flexible working will become the default unless employers have good reasons not to offer it. This will introduce a wide range of arrangements over the time and place of work, such as home working, job-sharing and flexitime – benefitting both disabled workers and carers.
• Statutory leave: The Government will “progress a commitment” to introduce a statutory leave entitlement for an extra week of unpaid leave per year, to help support unpaid carers with their additional responsibilities.
• New advice hub: the new service will provide “clear advice” to both disabled people and employers on employment rights, such as discrimination in the workplace and reasonable adjustments.

Commenting on the strategy and the launch of the new advice hub, Business Minister Amanda Solloway said: “We want the UK to be the best place in the world to work and do business for everyone – and removing the barriers disabled people face will be critical if we’re to meet that goal.
“From the new employment advice hub to Carer’s Leave, we hope these changes will make a real difference to the working lives of disabled people and carers.”
Acas Chief Executive, Susan Clews, added: “Our new hub explains how the law protects disabled people from discrimination at work and the basic rights that they are entitled to.
“It is also a great resource for employers to help them create diverse, inclusive workplaces that are welcoming to disabled people and promotes equal opportunities for all employees.
“Advice on the hub includes tips on how to prevent disability discrimination, how to make reasonable adjustments and how employees can raise complaints about disability discrimination at work.”
According to the latest statistics, disabled people have an employment rate that is 28.8 per cent lower than that of people who are not disabled. This difference is known as the “disability employment gap”.
Click here to access the National Disability Strategy, or click here to access the new advice hub.
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