New Directions for Government Disability Employment Policy

The UK’s disability employment gap stands at nearly 30 percentage points, with a 14 per cent pay gap between disabled and non-disabled workers.

Despite efforts to bridge this gap through the government’s Disability Confident scheme, recent research reveals that it has had minimal effect on improving employment outcomes for disabled individuals.

Now is the time for a bold new approach.

Join Professor Kim Hoque as he explores the cutting-edge proposals of the Disability Employment Charter, which offers practical solutions to break down the barriers disabled people face in the workforce. Backed by over 220 organisations, including the UK’s leading disability charities and corporate bodies, the Charter outlines crucial reforms such as:

• Mandatory reporting on disability employment and pay gaps
• Reformation of the Disability Confident scheme and Access to Work
• Leveraging government procurement to drive change
• Enhanced access to reasonable adjustments

These proposals are gaining momentum, with several already included in Labour’s general election manifesto. This presentation will provide insights into how the government can create a more equitable employment landscape for disabled people.

About the Speaker:

Professor Kim Hoque is an authority on human resource management and a leading voice in disability employment policy. As a founding member of Disability@Work and the Disability Employment Charter, Professor Hoque has worked at the forefront of disability inclusion. His expertise spans government vocational education, diversity and inclusion policies, and organisational performance.

Resources:

Disability Employment Charter

Disability@Work