Raising awareness of disability
The 3rd December is designated by the UN as International Day for People with Disabilities, an annual event to celebrate and draw attention to the economic contributions of the 386 million disabled people around the world. Around the UK, and across the globe, many employers are lighting up purple (follow #PurpleLightUp on social media) to show their support for disability inclusion and to raise awareness. It comes at a difficult time, during the global pandemic, where many of us are having to work from home – a luxury that has all too often been declined prior to Covid-19.
Launching our eBite
This year we’re focusing on hidden disabilities, because not all disabilities are visible.
And today we’re launching an online interactive guide (we call them eBites) called ‘disability: know your rights’ aimed at supporting our members, and our reps.
What else is Accord doing?
At Accord, we work very closely with Lloyds Banking Group and TSB – both employers have invested a lot of time and resources into creating great and supporting policies for workers with disabilities.
During 2020, both banks launched fresh approaches to support workplace adjustments in the workplace. We call these documents Workplace Adjustment Passports (WPA passport for short). WPA passports are handy documents for anyone that has adjustment needs and is a central place to keep track of what’s been agreed for you, and details about any medical conditions you might have – we know from members’ feedback over the years that it’s tiring having to repeat yourself every time you change managers.
Accord supported a motion at the TUC Disabled Workers conference in 2018 which led to the creation of a template document that unions could use to encourage employer adoption of WPA passports in their workplaces. We encouraged both Lloyds Banking Group and TSB to take a look, and we’re pleased that both have now adopted these.
Short-changed: The disability pay gap
The TUC launched its annual report into the disability pay gap – and this year, the day that on average disabled people stop getting paid compared to non-disabled people was the 1st November.
The gap is widening, and drastic action is needed to prevent this turning into a chasm. The difference stands at £3,800 on average – that’s the equivalent of being unpaid for 60 days a year, and a growth of £800 in the last year alone. You can find out more on our blog.
Read the blogEvents
The TUC is hosting a webinar on the 3rd December (17:30-19:00) called ‘building back better: supporting disabled workers during and beyond Covid-19’.
The panel will discuss how the trade union movement is supporting disabled workers during the pandemic and its role in achieving an inclusive, accessible, and sustainable post Covid-19 world.
Interested in attending? Click below to register.
The webinar will be hosted on Zoom, so you won’t be able to access this on a bank device. Use a personal device and make sure you have a good wi-fi connection.
Event registration is closed.
About the Accord ED&I group
The Accord Equality Diversity & Inclusion group aims to ensure every individual has the right to an equal opportunity to maximise their potential, regardless of background, and to be treated with dignity and respect. It’s a place where diversity is celebrated, and all contributions are welcomed and cherished without prejudice or judgement. It’s also a chance to collectively learn from our experiences, allowing us to remove barriers and enrich each other’s lives.
If you’d like to discuss anything from this update or you’re interested in finding out more about the Accord Equality Diversity & Inclusion group, get in touch. Email [email protected]
