Disabled could be helped back into work with new right similar to maternity law
They said such a right would 'would clarify and strengthen existing legal protections' under the the Equality Act and 'provide a much stronger message to workers about what they are entitled to'.
The report warned that the Government risks failing to meet its aim to raise the employment rate to 80% without a 'serious strategy to shift employer behaviour' and argues employers must be incentivised to reintegrate existing workers back into jobs.
The report comes in the same week as the Universal Credit Bill cleared the House of Lords, aimed at rebalancing the benefit 'to remove work disincentives', according to a Government minister, while giving existing claimants 'the security and certainty they need'.
Separately during the debate, Paralympic champion Baroness Tanni Grey-Thompson, who sits in the Lords, said disabled people have been portrayed as 'benefit scroungers and a drain on society' in the conversation on welfare reform.
In its report, the Resolution Foundation said around 12% of disabled staff leave work each year – consistently 1.5-times the rate of non-disabled workers.
It added that twice as many people move from work into inactivity due to ill health – around 304,000 each year – than those moving the other way (around 151,000).
But the think tank said despite there being 'strong' legal obligations in place already on employers, they are 'simply not doing enough to retain existing workers', with fewer than half of disabled workers who request a reasonable adjustment – which can include a change to working arrangements or provision of equipment, services or support – having this granted in full.
With 15% of disabled people reporting workplace discrimination relating to their disability in 2022, the report said this remains a 'pressing issue'.
The think tank said: 'Boosting disability employment is not straightforward: it will involve improvements to the health system, benefits system and world of work. But action to incentivise and support employers is a vital piece of the puzzle.'
Louise Murphy, senior economist at the Resolution Foundation, said: 'The Government should do more to incentivise firms to employ disabled people – especially those who have been out of work for long periods – but employers need to do more in return.
'A new right to reintegration could help disabled workers back into work in the same way that maternity rights transformed women's employment prospects a generation ago.'
The foundation said the new right could be enforced through employment tribunals, but urged the Government to also consider 'more proactive enforcement mechanisms, whether via the Equalities and Human Rights Commission or connected to a new system of caseworkers that are expected to be covered in the forthcoming Mayfield Review'.
Former John Lewis boss, Sir Charlie Mayfield, is undertaking a review to investigate how Government and businesses can work together to support ill and disabled people into work, with a report expected in autumn.
The Government has been contacted for comment.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Independent
3 hours ago
- The Independent
NHS lessens impact of doctors' strike as fewer take to picket lines
Fewer patients were affected by the five-day walkout by resident doctors compared with previous strikes, officials have said. Hospitals were ordered to press ahead with as much pre-planned care as possible during the walkout across England, which ended at 7am on Wednesday. And hospital leaders said that fewer resident doctors, formerly known as junior doctors, took to picket lines compared with previous walkouts. Details on the number of appointments, procedures and operations postponed as a result are expected to be published later this week. Both the Government and the British Medical Association (BMA) have said they are prepared to continue negotiations with a view to avert further strike action. Health Secretary Wes Streeting has said talks could lead to improvements in the working lives of resident doctors but he has repeatedly said there is no more money for pay. But BMA leaders have insisted that there must be some pay discussions during talks. The BMA has also launched a 'linked dispute' with the Government over a lack of places for doctors in training, which could lead to common ground during future talks. Mr Streeting said: 'We made the decision to cancel as little planned care as possible this year, and thanks to their tireless work it's clear that far more patients have got the care they need than in previous years. 'That said, all industrial action comes with a level of disruption, and I feel angry and frustrated on behalf of those patients who didn't get the service they expect due to these strikes. 'That is why my door is open to the BMA leadership to resume the talks we were having last week, before they walked out. 'After a 28.9% pay rise over the last three years, we simply cannot go further on pay this year, but there are real improvements to resident doctors' working lives we can work hand-in-hand to make – from training positions to career progression and beyond.' He went on: 'After over a decade of being let down, resident doctors deserve better than their current working conditions, ebbing support from the public, and a seemingly intractable position from the BMA leadership, especially given a majority of them didn't vote for this strike action. 'I stand ready to continue our discussions. Our shared ambitions will reap rewards for both patients and staff but they can only be achieved if we work together.' Rory Deighton, from the NHS Confederation, which represents NHS organisations, said: 'Many patients will not have experienced any disruption whatsoever to their care and that is thanks to the NHS doing its best to keep the show on the road. 'It is welcome to hear from members that in many places fewer resident doctors have gone on strike and the impact has been less severe than previous walkouts. 'This does not take away from the frustration and inconvenience of patients who have had their vital care delayed and are now facing even longer waits in pain and discomfort.' Dr Tom Dolphin, chairman of the BMA's council, told Times Radio: 'What's happened this time is that NHS England has been a little bit reckless, to some extent, about insisting that hospitals try to continue as much planned elective care as possible. 'Hospitals need to make sure that emergency and urgent care goes ahead (and) patients on the wards get looked after. 'To do that safely on strike days, when you're going to have potentially up to half of your medical workforce not there, you've got to release those senior doctors from the planned care to go and do emergency and urgent care, because they can't be in two places at once. 'If you try and do the other work, if you're asking those senior doctors to be in two places at once, that's where the risk arises.' He also said that pay would have to form part of future negotiations. 'This is a pay dispute, fundamentally, alongside the the unemployment issues, so there would need to be some discussion about pay but it doesn't need to all be at once,' he said. NHS officials have said cancelled bookings would be rescheduled within two weeks but warned of knock-on impacts for other patients. On X, the BMA posted about a number of derogation requests made by hospitals – which occur when hospitals call for striking doctors to return to work from picket lines amid concerns about patient safety. In some cases, striking doctors were permitted to return to work but in some cases the requests were 'revoked'. Dr Dolphin said some derogation requests were granted but said that in other instances 'there was a complete lack of planning on the hospital's part' and managers had not made any 'attempts to find cover' and after discussions with the union these rota gaps were resolved by hospitals.
Daily Mirror
3 hours ago
- Daily Mirror
Over-65s with muscle pain urged to check if they can get £441 DWP payment
The Department for Work and Pensions has encouraged older people who have muscle or joint pain to check if they are entitled to further financial support from the government Older people suffering from muscle or joint pain are being urged to check if they're eligible for extra financial help from the Government, possibly through the Attendance Allowance benefit. This allowance, managed by the Department for Work and Pensions, helps with additional costs if you have a disability or health condition severe enough that you need someone else to look after you. It's paid at two different rates, and the amount you get depends on how much care your condition requires. You could be entitled to £73.90 or £110.40 a week to help with personal care if you have a health condition and you're of State Pension age or older. According to figures, arthritis remains the most common condition claimed for by nearly 484,000 pensioners on Attendance Allowance across Britain. However, there are also 74,804 people over 66 claiming support for muscle, joint and back pain. Joint pain, especially lower back pain, is very common and while it usually gets better within a few weeks, it can sometimes last longer or come back, particularly as we get older. Some 2.5 million people across the UK suffer from back pain every day of the year and many may not realise they could be entitled to financial help to cover any extra costs the condition brings, reports the Daily Record. Data from the DWP shows that 1.7 million elderly individuals are currently receiving support through Attendance Allowance, and it's important to note that having a carer is not a requirement for claiming. The eligibility for Attendance Allowance isn't determined by savings or income and is paid every four weeks. This means those on the lower rate will receive roughly £295 each pay period, while those on the higher rate will receive around £441. Across the UK, an estimated 20 million people are living with arthritis or similar conditions affecting the joints. Therefore, if you're suffering from arthritis, back pain, joint pain, muscle pain or chronic pain, you could be eligible for support. Who is eligible You can get Attendance Allowance if you've reached State Pension age and the following apply: your disability or health condition is severe enough for you to need help caring for yourself or someone to supervise you, for your own or someone else's safety you have a physical disability (including sensory disability, for example blindness), a mental disability (including learning difficulties), or a health condition you have needed that help for at least 6 months You must also: have been in Great Britain for at least 2 of the last 3 years (this does not apply if you're a refugee or have humanitarian protection status) not be subject to immigration control (unless you're a sponsored immigrant) be in Great Britain when you claim - there are some exceptions, such as members and family members of the armed forces be habitually resident in the UK, Ireland, Isle of Man or the Channel Islands not get Disability Living Allowance (DLA), Personal Independence Payment (PIP), Adult Disability Payment (ADP) or Scottish Adult Disability Living Allowance (SADLA)
South Wales Argus
5 hours ago
- South Wales Argus
NHS lessens impact of doctors' strike as fewer take to picket lines
Hospitals were ordered to press ahead with as much pre-planned care as possible during the walkout across England, which ended at 7am on Wednesday. And hospital leaders said that fewer resident doctors, formerly known as junior doctors, took to picket lines compared with previous walkouts. Details on the number of appointments, procedures and operations postponed as a result are expected to be published later this week. Wes Streeting said he is ready to discuss 'real improvements to resident doctors' working lives' but cannot go further on pay (Jordan Pettitt/PA) Both the Government and the British Medical Association (BMA) have said they are prepared to continue negotiations with a view to avert further strike action. Health Secretary Wes Streeting has said talks could lead to improvements in the working lives of resident doctors but he has repeatedly said there is no more money for pay. But BMA leaders have insisted that there must be some pay discussions during talks. The BMA has also launched a 'linked dispute' with the Government over a lack of places for doctors in training, which could lead to common ground during future talks. Great to see so much support for resident doctors over the past five days. We've come together to stand up for fair pay and restore value to our profession. Stick Together. Strike Together. Win Together. #PayRestoration #DoctorsStrike — Resident Doctors (@BMAResidents) July 30, 2025 Mr Streeting said: 'We made the decision to cancel as little planned care as possible this year, and thanks to their tireless work it's clear that far more patients have got the care they need than in previous years. 'That said, all industrial action comes with a level of disruption, and I feel angry and frustrated on behalf of those patients who didn't get the service they expect due to these strikes. 'That is why my door is open to the BMA leadership to resume the talks we were having last week, before they walked out. 'After a 28.9% pay rise over the last three years, we simply cannot go further on pay this year, but there are real improvements to resident doctors' working lives we can work hand-in-hand to make – from training positions to career progression and beyond.' He went on: 'After over a decade of being let down, resident doctors deserve better than their current working conditions, ebbing support from the public, and a seemingly intractable position from the BMA leadership, especially given a majority of them didn't vote for this strike action. 'I stand ready to continue our discussions. Our shared ambitions will reap rewards for both patients and staff but they can only be achieved if we work together.' Rory Deighton, from the NHS Confederation, which represents NHS organisations, said: 'Many patients will not have experienced any disruption whatsoever to their care and that is thanks to the NHS doing its best to keep the show on the road. 'It is welcome to hear from members that in many places fewer resident doctors have gone on strike and the impact has been less severe than previous walkouts. 'This does not take away from the frustration and inconvenience of patients who have had their vital care delayed and are now facing even longer waits in pain and discomfort.' Resident doctors in England have returned to work after a five-day strike (Owen Humphreys/PA) Dr Tom Dolphin, chairman of the BMA's council, told Times Radio: 'What's happened this time is that NHS England has been a little bit reckless, to some extent, about insisting that hospitals try to continue as much planned elective care as possible. 'Hospitals need to make sure that emergency and urgent care goes ahead (and) patients on the wards get looked after. 'To do that safely on strike days, when you're going to have potentially up to half of your medical workforce not there, you've got to release those senior doctors from the planned care to go and do emergency and urgent care, because they can't be in two places at once. 'If you try and do the other work, if you're asking those senior doctors to be in two places at once, that's where the risk arises.' He also said that pay would have to form part of future negotiations. 'This is a pay dispute, fundamentally, alongside the the unemployment issues, so there would need to be some discussion about pay but it doesn't need to all be at once,' he said. Dozens of resident doctors joined a picket line at King George Hospital in Ilford on Tuesday (Lily Shanagher/PA) NHS officials have said cancelled bookings would be rescheduled within two weeks but warned of knock-on impacts for other patients. On X, the BMA posted about a number of derogation requests made by hospitals – which occur when hospitals call for striking doctors to return to work from picket lines amid concerns about patient safety. In some cases, striking doctors were permitted to return to work but in some cases the requests were 'revoked'. Dr Dolphin said some derogation requests were granted but said that in other instances 'there was a complete lack of planning on the hospital's part' and managers had not made any 'attempts to find cover' and after discussions with the union these rota gaps were resolved by hospitals.
