Disabled people prevented from working

More than seven in 10 disabled workers in the UK have stopped working due to a disability or health condition, new research has found. 

According to the survey of more than 1,600 disabled adults in the UK, carried out between June and July 2018, 73% dropped out of work because of their condition. In addition, almost one in five) of those that had applied for a job in the past five years reported their job offer was withdrawn by their employer as a result of their disability.  And almost a quarter of employers questioned said they would be less likely to hire someone with a disability, and 60% of those reported concerns that a disabled person would not be able to do the job.

The news follows other research findings which revealed that of the 1,725 Equality Act enquiries a large law firm dealt with during 2018, almost two-thirds involved proposed claims of disability discrimination. 

There have been calls for compulsory training for public sector bodies, as many are failing in their legal obligations to treat people equally.  The survey concluded that the most effective way to make change happen in this area is by the serious consideration of enforcing the obligations of organisations with financial penalties.