On Thursday 23 July 2020 at 2pm, we had a Supporters Network Event. Our guest speakers had a 45-minute discussion on COVID-19, and how this has exposed and exacerbated equality issues in the workplace. There was a specific focus on disabled people, and how employers can properly support them during lockdown and re-opening phases, and when moving forward. Our speakers were Ian MacArthur (Head of the Charter), Michele Scattergood (Chief Executive at Breakthrough UK), Kate Headley (Director at The Clear Company), Lee Jefcott (Partner at Brabners) and James Williams (Group Transformation Lead at Lloyds Banking Group).

1. Classified: Internal Personal and Confidential
Supported by Supporters’ Network Webinar
GREATER MANCHESTER GOOD EMPLOYMENT
CHARTER
Supporting Disabled People in the
Workforce
EQUALITY ISSUES

2. Classified: Internal Personal and Confidential
Supported by Supporters’ Network Webinar
GREATER MANCHESTER GOOD EMPLOYMENT
CHARTER
Ian MacArthur, Head of Charter Implementation Unit
Michele Scattergood, Chief Executive at Breakthrough
UK
Kate Headley, Director at The Clear Company
Lee Jefcott, Partner at Brabners
James Williams, Group Transformation Lead at Lloyds
Bank
SPEAKERS

3. Michele Scattergood - Chief Executive
m.scattergood@breakthrough-uk.co.uk
Key challenges disabled people
face to accessing good work

4. Breakthrough UK
• Worked in Mcr and GM for over 20 years
• We are a disabled people’s organisation
• We are influencers and service providers. Independent
Living & Employment
• Last year 600 dp, 84 in Employment Support , 27 gained
work
28/07/2020 © Breakthrough UK Ltd
www.breakthrough-uk.co.uk
4

5. Who are disabled people?
• 5% of disabled people are
wheelchair users
• 1 in 5 people have an
impairment
• 1 in 6 have mental health
issues.
28/07/2020 © Breakthrough UK Ltd
www.breakthrough-uk.co.uk
5

6. Facts and Stats
• Disabled people are twice as likely as non disabled people to be
unemployed
• 526,000 more disabled people in work by 2030 would generate £6
billion to the Exchequer and a GDP increase of £23 billion
• Impairment doesn’t mean illness
28/07/2020 © Breakthrough UK Ltd
www.breakthrough-uk.co.uk
6

7. Q:Why ?
A: It’s Social not Medical
• Environmental barriers
• Institutional barriers
• Attitudinal barriers
• Accessing Information
We can make changes & remove barriers
not change the person/ remove impairments
28/07/2020 © Breakthrough UK Ltd
www.breakthrough-uk.co.uk
7

8. Common Barriers to employment?
A : Littered with barriers at all levels .
- Many un-intentional bias
- Getting into work, staying in work, progressing in
work
28/07/2020 © Breakthrough UK Ltd
www.breakthrough-uk.co.uk
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9. Not steps or stairs ? …
Not the most common barrier at all
Disabled employees prioritise workplace adjustments as
essential to their retention
1 in every 2 disabled employees stating this is the single
most important issue for their retention and development.
28/07/2020 © Breakthrough UK Ltd
www.breakthrough-uk.co.uk
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10. What’s a common ‘adjustment’ ?
28/07/2020 © Breakthrough UK Ltd
www.breakthrough-uk.co.uk
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11. Nope …
• 40% of unemployed disabled people say that rigid
working hours can discourage them from entering work;
just 3.1% describe physical inaccessibility as a
barrier.
Most adjustments are a change in ‘approach’ or cost under
£200
28/07/2020 © Breakthrough UK Ltd
www.breakthrough-uk.co.uk
11

12. Key Barriers to good work
1. Assumptions
2. Access to training & work experience
3. Flexible recruitment methods
4. Lack of monitoring - who are your disabled staff
5. Lack of conversations and reasonable adjustments
28/07/2020 © Breakthrough UK Ltd
www.breakthrough-uk.co.uk
12

13. VICKY’S STORY
28/07/2020 © Breakthrough UK Ltd
www.breakthrough-uk.co.uk
13

14. In Summary
Disabled people are the experts
Impairment not illness
Social Model not medical
Adjustments (not assumptions)
Barriers
Labels
Environment
Disabled people are the experts
28/07/2020 © Breakthrough UK Ltd
www.breakthrough-uk.co.uk
14

15. Michele Scattergood - Chief Executive
admin@breakthrough-uk.co.uk
For more advice and information

16. Classified: Internal Personal and Confidential
Supported by Supporters’ Network Webinar
GREATER MANCHESTER GOOD EMPLOYMENT
CHARTER
GMgoodemploymentcharter.co.uk
@GoodEmpCharter
#GoodEmployment
THANK YOU!