20 April 2006
UnumProvident, the UK's leading disability insurer, has funded the re-publication of a best practice guide to the Disability Discrimination Act (DDA) by the Employers' Forum on Disability.
'Retaining your workforce - A best practice guide to the Disability Discrimination Act' was first published in 2004 and provides best practice guidance on dealing with situations that can be difficult when trying to retain disabled employees and avoid potential litigation. It gives practical guidance to managers on making reasonable adjustments, managing work sickness absence, redeployment and terminating contracts.
Joanne Hindle, Corporate Services Director at UnumProvident, said: "As experts in helping disabled people back to work, we are offering this guide to assist advisers in interpreting the requirements of the Act and their implications. Not only is this guidance relevant to their clients' businesses but also to their own businesses.
"Although the Act has been fully in force for well over a year now, there are still many employers who don't adhere to the common-sense guidelines set out by the Act. These companies could find themselves faced with hefty financial penalties, bad press and low staff morale if they do not take the often small, but significant, steps necessary to remedy this."
The DDA, which became law in December 1996, and was extended to include Small to Medium Enterprises (SMEs) from October 2004, requires all UK businesses to make reasonable adjustments to the physical features of their premises to make them more accessible for people with disabilities, both customers and employees.
This includes all aspects of workplace practices, and encompasses recruitment, training, development and dismissal of staff, as well as provision of services to disabled customers.
Copies of the guide can be obtained from UnumProvident by calling Helen Geal on 01306 646047 or by emailing helen.geal@unumprovident.co.uk.
ENDS