There are more than 4.7 million disabled people currently employed in the UK. Despite the protection the Equality Act 2010 provides, disability discrimination in the workplace unfortunately remains prevalent. It is important that employers understand their legal duties and obligations to protect their staff from such discrimination and to provide them with the support they need.
As a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, there have been significant shifts in working arrangements, such as the move toward hybrid/remote working. This has changed the landscape for employers in terms of how they manage all of their employees but also how they support disabled employees in particular.
This breakfast briefing will highlight the duties and obligations an employer has under the Equality Act and impact of the pandemic. We will discuss the duty to make reasonable adjustments for disabled employees and the consequences of getting it wrong. The session will provide practical tips on how to best support disabled employees in the workplace.
Who should attend?
- Senior executives
- HR directors
- HR personnel
- Managers
What will be included in the sessionWhat does the law say about…
- What constitutes a disability?
- The various forms of discrimination, including when the duty to make reasonable adjustments arises.
- Is COVID-19 or long-COVID a disability?
- When may disability discrimination be lawful?
What can you do in practice?
- Knowledge of disability: pre-employment questionnaires/risk assessments/medical evidence & OH reports.
- How have working arrangements changed as a result of COVID-19 and how does this typically affect disabled employees?
- Supporting employees in hybrid/remote working.
- Looking forward: are any changes to discrimination law expected?
What can go wrong and what to do if it does?
- Grievances
- Sickness absence
- Litigation
Gemma BaileySenior Associate |
David LewisPartner |
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