Survey finds SMEs want training in disability law

A survey of 500 small and medium enterprises (SMEs) by a solicitor firm, Bolt Burdon Kemp, has found that found many don’t understand how to cater for disabled employees. The survey found that 93% of those surveyed would like more information and training about disability employment law.

While 45% of SMEs surveyed say they employ someone with a substantial or long-term disability, only 4% of SMEs employ someone with a brain injury. This breaks down into 10.5% of companies in the arts and culture industry, 9% of companies in IT & Telecoms and 6% of companies in Architecture, Engineering and Building.

And, with the government’s Access to Work scheme not specifying brain injuries as an individual disability, it’s difficult to say how many people with brain injuries currently make up the disability workforce.

What is encouraging, however, is that the majority of SMEs surveyed stated that they would only ask candidates about their mental or physical disability if it were relevant to the role. Half of SMEs say they would not ask about disabilities at all, suggesting equal opportunity regardless of disability.

https://www.boltburdonkemp.co.uk/news-blogs/brain-injury-blogs/lack-of-knowledge-within-smes-is-slowing-down-progress-in-disability-employment/

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