Disability employment gap continues to pose major challenges across the UK workplaces. In this special report, you'll learn about the factors contributing to the current situation and the efforts being undertaken to effectively address the disparity in employment between disabled and non-disabled talent.
The 10,000 Interns Foundation, in their recent report, states that the disability employment gap in the UK continued to grow in 2022 to a “grossly unacceptable” level. Citing government findings from June last year, the London-based non-profit paints a rather grim picture of the inequality and systemic bias that still exist across the UK workplaces. In an attempt to mitigate the situation, the organisation has launched the 10,000 Able Interns Programme that will create paid internship opportunities for disabled students and recent graduates as they transition from education to work in 2023.
The Foundation believes that negative attitudes towards disabilities stem from the way our world functions. In business and society at large, there are many preconceived notions and assumptions about the pros and cons of hiring disabled talent. Such mindsets completely ignore the compelling business case for diversity, thereby failing to knock down barriers to success for qualified job seekers who happen to be disabled.
The report also reveals that while the existing employment and anti-discrimination laws seem to provide an adequate safety net to disabled people, the implications of willful non-compliance are not harsh enough to act as a deterrence.
Referring to a 2020 study by The Valuable 500 and Tortoise Media, the report says that no executives or senior managers in any of the FTSE 100 companies disclosed that they had a disability. Moreover, only 5% of the UK’s largest companies issued board-level statements underscoring that disability was an integral part of their leadership agenda.
The 10,000 Interns Foundation urges all companies in the UK to take decisive action that would help make 2023 a better and more inclusive year for DE&I.
Read the full report here.
At Rangam and SourceAbled UK, we reiterate our commitment to partnering with organisations that are actively working towards narrowing the disability employment gap. We understand that no company alone can effectively address deep-seated prejudices, stereotypes, and misconceptions; however, collaborations can lead the way to a better tomorrow for everyone.
