The measures outlined in this response are designed to minimise the risk of ill-health related job loss through providing employers with access to good quality information and advice, supporting employers and employees during sickness absence, enabling Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) to reap the benefits of Occupational Health (OH), and proposals to enable better use of the fit note.
This is just one part of their approach to supporting disabled people and those with long-term health conditions.
The ‘Health and Disability Support Green Paper’ led by Department Work and Pensions (DWP) considers improvements to health and disability benefits in the short to medium term whilst also starting a discussion about more fundamental changes.
Together these build on the commitments they made in ‘Improving Lives: the future of work, health and disability’ including their ambition to see one million more disabled people in work by 2027.
In addition, they feel this complements the National Disability Strategy which sets out practical changes to improve disabled people’s everyday lives, helping to achieve equity of opportunities so that everyone can fully participate in the life of this country.
The consultation outcome in various formats can be accessed here.
Scope, a disability equality charity in England and Wales, which provides practical information and emotional support and campaigns relentlessly to create a fairer society, has commented on the consultation response. James Taylor, executive director of strategy at disability equality charity Scope, said “ It’s astonishing that the Government has said a pandemic is ‘not the right time’ to fix our outdated sick pay system. “The Government has missed a golden opportunity to level up the country by protecting those who are lowest paid from being forced to work while unwell.”
You can read their full views here.