The UK’s Business Disability Forum (BDF) today has questioned why the Government’s support and updated advice (on May 7) for disabled home workers, “came so late in the lockdown”.
Although BDF has welcomed the Government’s updated guidance, which now includes support for disabled employees working from home due to Covid-19, such as covering support costs, it believes the support should have actually been communicated much earlier.
“We are pleased to see the Government has recognised the need for increased flexibility around Access to Work at this current time,” stated Diane Lightfoot, CEO at Business Disability Forum. “Access to Work is a lifeline for many disabled people, covering the costs of the specialist support and tech they may need to carry out their roles – adjustments which are available in people’s usual place of work, but not necessarily available in their homes.”
However, the non-profit business and disability organisation has questioned why this information has been communicated, “so late into lockdown”. “Given the importance of Access to Work, we are surprised that it has taken the Government so long to officially communicate the changes and are concerned by the unnecessary anxiety and uncertainty that this may have caused some claimants,” commented Lightfoot.
COMMUNICATION PRIORITY
“We know that managing the health and wellbeing of all staff, but particularly colleagues with disabilities and long-term conditions, is a matter of particular concern for our members, at present,” Lightfoot added. “We also know that communication around Access to Work has long been an issue, and one which has affected past take up. Therefore, we call on the Government to make communication a priority and to ensure that the updated guidance is communicated as widely as possible and in a range of accessible formats.”
Business Disability Forum is a non-profit organisation working with over 300 businesses and organisations, offering informed advice on issues affecting disabled people in the workplace and as consumers.
The latest guidance Government advice on Covid-19 and Access to Work can be found here.
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