This information is provided by the Disability Rights Commission and is subject to crown copyright.

Disability, health and employment: a short guide for small and medium-sized employers

Employment

There are around 10 million disabled people in Great Britain - around one in five of the adult population. Most employers are already successfully employing people who would be covered by the Disability Discrimination Act, whether or not they realise it and whether or not the person chooses to use the term "disabled" about themselves. The important thing to realise is that it is illegal to discriminate unfairly against someone when you are:

• Choosing someone for a job.
• Considering people for promotion, dismissal or redundancy.

This section gives you information about the law and advice about good practice. You can read guidance for specific issues such as volunteering and supporting employees with mental health problems. It also explains why employing disabled people makes good business sense.

The DRC also has a Leadership Strategy which endeavours to significantly enhance the participation of disabled people in senior positions, in particular in community and public life.

Showing items from 1 to 9

• Recruiting, Retaining and Developing Disabled Volunteers
• Health and Safety and the DDA
• Guidance for trade unions supporting people with mental health problems
• Is stress a disability? A frequently asked question
• Guidance for Qualifications Bodies
• Guidance Document for the UK Fire and Rescue Service on the Employment of Disabled Firefighters
• Police Fire and Prison Service Report on Work to Prepare for the DDA
• Promoting good practice on diabetes in the police service
• Information for Smaller Employers About Changes to the Law on Employment of Disabled People

[ Back to top]