EFD disability news - Employment

Disabled people subjected to 'benefit fraud' abuse

EFD — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 17:19:00 +0000

The UK government's focus on benefit fraudsters as a justification for cuts being made to disability allowances is being used as ammunition against disabled people.

An increasing number of people with disabilities say they are facing abuse and bitterness while out in public from people that believe they are faking their ailment.

The government's 20 per cent planned cut in Disability Living Allowances (DLA) by 2015/16 forms a backdrop to this abuse.

Minister for disabled insists 'there is no shortage of British jobs'

EFD — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 16:51:00 +0000

Despite a recent bout of figures declaring high levels of unemployment in the UK, a government minister claims there is "no shortage of jobs".

The minister for disabled people in the Department for Work and Pensions, Maria Miller, told BBC Radio 5's Pienaar's Politics show that unemployment levels are down to people's unwillingness to apply for the roles available, the Guardian reports.

Mental health 'still has stigma attached in the workplace'

EFD — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 17:02:00 +0000

Prejudice still exists in the workplace for people with mental health issues, according to an expert.

Despite a series of recent media campaigns from charity group Mind, Dr Rick Norris, a chartered psychologist and author of Think Yourself Happy, claims that employers are still apprehensive about offering work to people with mental health problems.

Dr Norris argues that older people with mental health issues tend to face more discrimination when applying for jobs as "employers are more likely to give younger people the benefit of the doubt.

Rod Liddle's attack on disabled benefit fraud 'widely condemned'

EFD — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 11:00:00 +0000

Rod Liddle's article in the Sun concerning disability benefit fraud has prompted widespread condemnation.

In the piece, Mr Liddle jokes that he made becoming disabled a new year's resolution, claiming it has become easier to claim incapacity and disability benefits than in the past.

Fear govt cuts will hit disabled workers in Scotland

EFD — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 15:38:00 +0000

Ongoing government cuts are proving a real setback for work towards the social and economic inclusion of disabled employees in the UK.

Disabled workers at a Remploy factory in Scotland are facing an uncertain future, after a report recommended bringing funding to support is cut in favour of helping workers find mainstream employment.

Speaking to the Daily Record, workers at Remploy's Leven factory expressed their concern about the implications of the proposals.

Disabled workers 'are just as productive'

EFD — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 17:05:00 +0000

Disabled workers should be just as employable as any other staff, according to the opinion of a leading social enterprise entrepreneur.

Jane Hatton, director of social enterprise and disabled people's job board Evenbreak, wrote in The Guardian: "Disabled employees are, on average, at least as productive as our non-disabled colleagues," claiming that they have less time off sick and tend to stay in their jobs for a longer period of time, making disabled workers a solid investment for employers.

TUC bemoans 'chequebook justice' for employment tribunals

EFD — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 17:28:00 +0000

The general secretary of the Trades Union Congress (TUC) has warned that the government's new proposals to introduce a minimum fee for employment tribunals will significantly affect the number of people making a claim.

Brendan Barber told a conference in London that plans to introduce payments of between £600 and £1,750 to have a discrimination claim heard at a tribunal will lead to a "chequebook justice system", the Press Association reports.

Vocational skills 'increasingly important in workplace'

EFD — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 11:02:00 +0000

Vocational skills are becoming increasingly important to secure a job and financial inclusion, jobseekers have been warned.

There is a responsibility on the part of society to ensure that young people are appropriately trained to take advantage of job opportunities, claimed Quest Professional director Jo Barnard.

However, she noted that employers also need to be honest about what they expect from prospective job candidates, to help them improve in areas that will give them a better chance of securing a job in the future.

Disabled employment difficulties 'faced worldwide'

EFD — Wed, 18 Jan 2012 10:31:00 +0000

Disability competence has proved top of the agenda in the UK this week, as the government wrestles with opposition to its controversial employment and support allowance.

However, for those disabled people keen to get back to work, there are universal difficulties that need to be confronted whatever country you are in.

Yet, as a leading US disability employment expert notes, employers often neglect the hugely positive benefits of employing someone with a disability can bring.

People with mental health issues 'more likely to be unemployed'

EFD — Tue, 17 Jan 2012 16:29:00 +0000

With current reforms in the UK looking to change welfare legislation the government is hoping to encourage many more disabled people to work.

However, while many people are unable to work, some disabled workers may face it particularly difficult to find employment.

Andy Bell, spokesman for the Sainsbury Centre for Mental Health, claimed that while there is no specific evidence, "we do know that people with a range of mental health problems are more likely to be out of work than average".