The Government has announced plans for a new online service which is part of a £6.4 million programme to help employers support disabled people and those with health conditions at work.
In an announcement on Monday, the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) said its Support with Employee Health and Disability website provides free advice to businesses. The site, which has a Q&A format, is currently in test mode, with businesses and disability groups invited to give feedback through an online survey, the department said.
This feedback will inform improvements and constant updates to the service over the next three years. Any employer can access the site, but it is aimed at smaller businesses, many of which do not have in-house HR teams or access to an occupational health service, the DWP said.
It will also offer information on potential changes an employer could make to help disabled people or those with health conditions return to and stay in work. Once fully developed, the site will help employers understand their legal obligations, including how to make adjustments for disabled people and those with health conditions, the department said.
It comes as the Government seeks to boost the number of people in employment and ensure everyone has the opportunity to benefit from being in work. Claire Coutinho, minister for disabled people, said: “Since 2017 we have seen one million more disabled people in work, beating our target by five years.
“Now we want to go even further by giving more employers the tools and information they need to ensure disabled people and those with health conditions can succeed in the workplace. As the new minister for disabled people, there is no end to my ambition to build on the success of the department by making sure disabled people have the same opportunities as everyone else to start, stay and succeed in work.”
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