Fact Service (February 2017)

Issue 8

Work fears of disabled people revealed


Disabled people fear losing their jobs and hide impairments to stay in work, according to the charity Scope.


Almost three out of five (58%) of disabled people feel at risk of losing their jobs and one in two (53%) have experienced bullying or harassment at work because of their impairments, according to new research by disability charity Scope.


The survey results were released just ahead of the closing date of the government consultation on work, health and disability, and highlight the issues disabled people face in work and the risks they face falling out of work.


The research also found that: one in five (21%) go as far as hiding their disability from employers; one in eight disabled people (13%) have been overlooked for a promotion; and one in four (24%) say their current employer is not supportive of their disability.


The government has made a commitment to halving the disability employment gap. Yet the employment gap between disabled people and the public has remained static at nearly 30 percentage points for the past decade.


www.scope.org.uk/About-Us/Media/Press-releases/February-2017/Disabled-people-fear-losing-their-jobs-and-hide-im


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