Employers need support to adapt to Equality Act

Press Information from The Employers' Forum on Disability "Employers need support to adapt to Equality Act, EHRC report reinforces"

A report out today (11 October 2010) from the Equality and Human Rights Commission reinforces how the statutory Codes of Practice for the Equality Act are needed to support employers in employing disabled people and serving disabled customers.

The EHRC's How Fair is Britain report is the first major study of its kind into the state of Britain's equality landscape. It brings together all available evidence about equality issues into one review.

The report shows that:

•Disabled men are substantially less likely to be in employment than in the past.
•Disabled people are twice as likely to report harassment in the workplace as non-disabled people.
•Children with Special Educational Needs (SEN) are substantially less likely to achieve 5 GCSE A-Cs as children without SEN.

Susan Scott-Parker, Chief Executive of Employers' Forum on Disability, said: "The statistics in this report make sobering reading. In many ways, they reinforce what we already know: the way the law is applied needs to make it easier for employers to get it right when employing disabled people.

"Otherwise, legal and regulatory frameworks will not address the causes of the inequality outlined in this report. Employers see the role of EHRC as being to ensure the quality of the law, and that is applied credibly and consistently

"Employers are still getting used to the very recent change in equality law. We look forward to the swift publication by EHRC and the Government Equalities Office of the Equality Act's statutory Codes of Practice on employment and access to goods, facilities and services.

"These Codes will support employers in employing disabled people and serving disabled customers. That is what will make a practical difference to the experience of disabled people.

More information about Employers' Forum on Disability

Employers' Forum on Disability is the employers' organisation focused on disability as it affects employers and service providers. With over 400 members, EFD represents organisations that employ around 20 per cent of the UK workforce.Since its establishment in 1991, EFD has worked closely with government and other stakeholders, sharing best practice to make it easier to employ disabled people and serve disabled customers

See also: EFD says Employers need help with Equality Act

The Equality Act 2010 - Are you compliant? Find out here how jml Training can help your organisation