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Reasonable adjustmentsCandidate experienceDisability discriminationDisabilityRecruitment & retention

One in three disabled jobseekers face discrimination

by Clare Allerton 2 Feb 2015
by Clare Allerton 2 Feb 2015

More than one-third (37%) of disabled jobseekers have been discriminated against during the recruitment process, according to new research.

In addition, 82% of disabled candidates reported having a negative experience with a recruitment consultancy, something that they attribute to a lack of knowledge surrounding disability issues.

There is also a significant disparity between candidates’ and recruiters’ perceptions in terms of the provision of “reasonable adjustments” that are made to accommodate disabled jobseekers – a legal requirement under the Equality Act 2010. Despite eight in 10 (82%) recruiters claiming that reasonable adjustments are made to cater for disabled jobseekers, more than half (58%) of candidates maintain that no such adjustments are made.

Disability resources on XpertHR

How to comply with the duty to make reasonable adjustments during the recruitment process

Good practice manual: Attracting disabled jobseekers

Kate Headley, director of the diversity consultancy Clear Company, which conducted the survey on behalf of the Recruitment Industry Disability Initiative (RIDI), said: “It is evident that a lack of awareness and knowledge is continuing to have an adverse effect on the recruitment of disabled people. When around one in every 18 jobseekers has a disability, this inevitably means that employers are missing out on a rich pool of talent.”

She continued: “Many employers and recruiters are afraid of getting it wrong, but there are some inspiring instances of companies that are pioneering the inclusion of disabled people and we can certainly learn from their experiences.”

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Mark Harper, minister for disabled people, said: “For those disabled people wishing to enter the workforce or progress their careers, the recruitment process itself can be a barrier. I am delighted to see that the recruitment industry is taking the lead on raising awareness of the barriers experienced by disabled people and is sharing best practice to start breaking them down.”

The research comes as the RIDI Awards opened for entries.

Clare Allerton

Clare Allerton joined Brightmine in 2014 and is now a senior production editor. She has more than 12 years’ experience of legal editing and previously worked on a variety of online and print publications dealing with family, property, tax and employment law issues.

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3 comments

multicoloredafro 2 Feb 2015 - 6:11 pm

Inclusion should be standard, not pioneering! I shall have to remind people if this article next time they assume I never tried to find work. How many people with a double First on my course were unemployed 12 years out of University?

Dawn L Watson 4 Feb 2015 - 1:47 pm

I have been blind for 3 years. And am finding it impossible to get a job. I can touch type and have been a volunteer in different organisations. But when I go for interviews they only see my disability. And the expence of getting equipment for me to do the job. It is not fair. They are missing out on all my experience. Dawn watson.

Manuel Anghelescu 16 Feb 2015 - 11:24 am

Well … it’s harder for me … I was born with a disability at my right hand and I am the proud owner of a Romanian Passport … that’s a double barrier for me … I’ve been in the UK for almost 2 months now, got my NINo and a bank account, but everywhere I go to find a job I face discrimination … in some cases for being a romanian, in other cases for my disability … if anyone knows where someone that speaks 4 languages, knows computers and has plenty of experience working in customer services, kitchen and construction please feel free to call 07721137829

Comments are closed.

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