On April 9, 2024, the UK government released updated guidance for line managers, specifically focused on recruiting, managing, and developing disabled employees. This latest version, crafted in partnership with the Disability Confident scheme and the CIPD (Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development), is designed to provide practical tools and knowledge to managers, enhancing their confidence in supporting disabled workers.
The new guidance comes after the CIPD’s 2023 report – Health and Wellbeing at Work report. The report highlighted a significant challenge faced by many organisations: managers often lack the knowledge and confidence to effectively manage employees with disabilities or long-term health conditions. With this in mind, the updated guidance is intended to strengthen managers’ ability to foster a more inclusive workplace. By doing so, businesses can expect improvements in team morale and performance, higher employee retention rates, and a reduction in sickness-related absences.
The guidance is comprehensive, covering various stages of the employment journey, including:
- Legal obligations
- Inclusive language and behaviour
- Making reasonable adjustments
- Recruitment processes
- Supporting new starters
- Confidentiality and disclosure
- Career development
- Managing sickness absence
- Retaining talent or supporting an employee’s transition when leaving the organization.
Additionally, the guidance includes specific advice on accommodating disabilities like long COVID and neurodiverse conditions.
This updated guidance underscores the vital role line managers play in fostering inclusive workplaces, ensuring that every employee, regardless of ability, can thrive in their career.
The guidance can be found here: Recruiting, managing and developing disabled people: a practical guide for managers – GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)
