"We know that disabled individuals often face worse outcomes once employed, including higher rates of burnout, health conditions, and feelings of inadequacy."
- Julia Turney, Partner & Head of Platform and Benefits at Barnett Waddingham
Of those surveyed (703), 86% have suffered work-related physical health conditions compared to just 35% of non-disabled employees. Furthermore, 25% of disabled staff said their workplace fails to provide reasonable adjustments for neurodiversity.
This lack of support is further compounded by fear of discrimination. Over half (52%) of disabled employees have avoided disclosing their neurodiversity at work, specifically due to fear of discrimination. 76% of disabled employees experience feelings of inadequacy at work, compared to just 37% of non-disabled colleagues.
In terms of support priorities, 30% of disabled employees consider paid mental health leave days as the most valuable type of support, followed by flexible working arrangements (26%), and regular mental health check-ins or assessments (26%).
Amid rumours of government policy changes, including over £5bn in disability benefit cuts and potential reforms to Personal Independence Payments (PIP), more disabled employees may find themselves forced into workplaces that lack the necessary accommodations.
“The Government is pushing to get more disabled people into work, but we know that disabled individuals often face worse outcomes once employed, including higher rates of burnout, health conditions, and feelings of inadequacy,” explained Julia Turney, Partner & Head of Platform and Benefits at Barnett Waddingham.
She said: “If more disabled individuals are likely to enter the workforce, employers must take swift action to adjust working conditions and benefits to support this increase in staff. This means ensuring that reasonable accommodations, flexible working arrangements, and targeted mental health support are in place.
“Failing to do so will not only harm employee wellbeing but might also lead to higher turnover and lower productivity,” Julia concluded.
