WORKING KNOWLEDGE IN WORK & HEALTH
CLOSING THE DISABILITY-EMPLOYMENT GAP
THE ISSUE
AVOIDABLE WORK DISABILITY
The Equality Act 2010
protects against discrimination in the workplace and wider society
In line with current legislation, policy and guidance does not differentiate between disability that is avoidable by helping people with common health problems to remain in work
THE EVIDENCE BASE
This would enable
The evidence suggests that policy and guidance is tailored to differentiate between populations in order to achieve the best outcome
to work together to prevent or reduce the disabling impact of common health problems
This would also allow other definitions of disability to be incorporated, such as those used in the biopsychosocial and social models:
Medical
Definition of disability
Impairment/
disease
Assumptions about work
Individuals are unable to work
Solutions
Medical treatment, rehabilitation
Biopsychosocial
Impairment and psychosocial factors
Impairment and psychosocial factors
Modification of individual, healthcare, welfare and employer interactions
Social
Societal failure
Individuals are excluded from work
Society has to remove barriers
Individuals interacting with systems
Individuals are able to work with changes to relevant systems
Individuals are able to work with changes to relevant systems
Evidence-based recommendations
This approach would promote a culture of collective responsibility around work ability
