TUC: third of disabled workers treated unfairly
Nearly a third of disabled workers say that they’ve been treated unfairly at work during the coronavirus pandemic, the TUC says.
According to a survey carried out for the union body, many disabled people report that they experienced significant barriers in the workplace before the pandemic, and that things have become worse since then. They told the TUC that:
• one in 13 (8%) said they were subjected to bullying and/or harassment, being ignored or excluded, singled out for criticism or being monitored excessively at work;
• one in eight (12%) said they were concerned their disability had affected their chances of a promotion in the future; and
• one in eight (13%) said they were concerned their disability had affected how their performance would be assessed by their manager.
TUC general secretary Frances O’Grady commented: “Many disabled and shielding workers felt unsafe at work during the pandemic. And too many disabled workers told us their boss is breaking the law by not giving them the adjustments they need.
“As we recover from the pandemic, we can’t afford to reverse the vital progress that disabled people have made – in the workplace and in wider society.
“Ministers must act. We need proper enforcement of disabled workers’ rights to reasonable adjustments and safety at work, and a duty on employers to report and close the pay gap between disabled and non-disabled workers.”