Employers' Forum on Disability

The Employers’ Forum on Disability is the world’s leading employers’ organisation focused on disability as it affects business. Funded and managed by over 400 members, we make it easier to recruit and retain disabled employees and to serve disabled customers. This site includes information about us, our publications, events, and information on the DDA.

• See why your organisation should join the Forum.
• Response: Delay of Single Equality Bill welcomed by Employers’ Forum on Disability
• EFD responds to the Interim Report of the Commission for Disabled Staff in Lifelong Learning (Member login required)

Recent news

1 May

AstraZeneca demonstrate a firm commitment to disability equality

25 Apr

Microlink furthers its commitment to disability equality

25 Mar

‘Magpies and peas’ at the Newcastle disability awareness quiz

11 Mar

Business leaders call for accessible technology

• Other press releases.
• Other news items

Disability Standard 2009

Following the success of the Disability Standard 2007, we are now registering interest for the 2009 benchmarking process.

Timings, costs and process are yet to be finalised but details will be issued to all members by the end of May.

In the meantime if you wish to register your interest or have any questions please contact the team.

Best practice employers look beyond absence levels

The government has announced today plans to tackle Britain’s ‘sick note’ culture.

Employers’ Forum on Disabililty (EFD) welcomes the Government’s efforts to encourage GPs to concentrate on what a patient can do at work, rather than what they can’t, with the creation of the ‘well note’.

EFD also agrees with the Government that employment is good for people’s health and wellbeing.

However, employers who adopt best practice and ensure that their line managers are trained to understand disability, are more able to look beyond absence levels and manage attendance in a way that benefits the business and the individual.

• Read the rest of this media release.

EFD response to the appointment of James Purnell as work and pensions secretary

Responding to the appointment of James Purnell as work and pensions secretary, Employers’ Forum on Disability chief executive Susan Scott-Parker says: “I would like to welcome James Purnell in his new role as work and pensions secretary.

“We have previously enjoyed a fruitful relationship with the Department of Work and Pensions, with both ministers and officials.

• Read the rest of this EFD statement

Hot topic: ‘Welcoming disabled delegates’

24 April 2008, Manchester

This event has been run annually over the last five years, and we have been able to update it and modify it based on delegate feedback.

Disabled delegates, speakers, clients or potential employees coming for an interview may have a wide range of specific requirements, which you are required to make as a reasonable adjustment. This might include physical access to your venue, hotel accommodation, car parking, Braille, audio description, sign language interpreters and palantypists.

• See upcoming events for further details.

Cameron’s ‘Work for Welfare’ doesn’t help disabled people

For the Conservative Party’s ‘Work for Welfare’ planned reform benefits to be successful, they must specifically include disabled people says Employers’ Forum on Disability.

Although the Conservatives plan to reassess and cut the number of people on incapacity benefit by 200,000, no specific mention is made of how disabled people will be attracted into work, or how employers can be supported to employ and retain those furthest from the job market.

• Read more of this press release.

Disability Standard results presented to All Party Parliamentary Group on Disability

Employers’ Forum on Disability (EFD) has presented the results of the Employers’ Forum Disability Standard 2007 at the House of Commons.

Niccola Swan, EFD Deputy Chief Executive and Catherine Grinyer, EFD head of communications and marketing, gave a half-hour briefing to the All Party Parliamentary Group on Disability.

The complete report is now available as a Microsoft Word document, that you can download and view below:

• Disability Standard results presented to the All Parliamentary Group on Disability

Disability Standard Benchmark Survey 2007 results launched in London

The results of the Employers’ Forum Disability Standard Benchmark Survey 2007 have been launched in London.

Delegates from member organisations who took part in the Survey assembed at HM Treasury on Whitehall for a conference and evening awards reception.

Susan Scott-Parker, EFD chief executive, and Simon Minty, EFD associate, were on hand to present the inaugaral ‘chief executive’s diamond award’ for excellence in several categories.

Earlier statistics from the Benchmark Survey revealed that over 90 per cent of employers may be putting themselves at legal risk by not having a suitable reasonable adjustments policy in place for disabled employees. To read the full media release, and other media releases related to the Benchmark Survey 2007, go to the Disability Standard 2007 section of the Media centre.

The Benchmark Survey is sponsored by Motability Operations.

• The Disability Standard Benchmark Report 2007 (PDF)

EFD welcomes new Work and Pensions Committee report

Employers’ Forum on Disability (EFD) welcomes the Work and Pensions Committee’s report, ‘Full Employment and world class skills: Responding to the challenges’, published 30 October.

EFD agrees with the committee that the Department for Work and Pensions needs to explore ways to assist disabled people to find and sustain work.

• Continue reading our our statement regarding this report

Delegates were given a preview of Employers’ Forum on Disability’s ‘Recruitment and mental health’ report at this year’s party conferences.

The events, held jointly with the Sainsbury Centre for Mental Health, were an opportunity for members to discuss directly with senior parliamentarians and policy experts the barriers they face on recruitment and mental health.

We also have a full article on the conferences.

Employers and government must do more for mental health says new report

Employers and government must work differently if people with mental health problems are to be recruited more easily, according to a new report from Employers’ Forum on Disability and the Sainsbury Centre for Mental Health.

Launched on World Mental Health Day, 10 October, ‘Recruitment and mental health’ encourages employers to take a more positive approach to employees who have, or have had, mental health problems.

• Recruitment and Mental Health report (PDF)

Alternative version of the ‘Line manager guide’

Now available to all EFD members is the alternative version of the ‘Line manager guide’, which boasts a new corporate design. Members can now have a choice between either the classic illustrated guide or the new stylised version.

The ‘Line manager guide’ is sponsored by Employers’ Forum on Disability Gold member Unum.

• Find about more about the Line manager guide

• Line manager guide reasonable adjustment form (Microsoft Word document)

Nationwide access register

Employers’ Forum on Disability is delighted to announce that it is now working in partnership with RADAR and Direct Enquiries Limited to develop and support the nationwide access register www.directenquiries.com which will help service providers meet their obligation under the Disability Discrimination Act (1995) and achieve best practice.

• Contact David Goodchild about this press release
• Read “Nationwide access register”