The UK unemployment rate is currently the joint lowest it has been since 1975 but there is a hidden workforce out there who are finding it as hard as ever to get a job.
They may have the skills and even the personality to make a difference in the workplace but in the UK someone with a disability is twice as likely to be unemployed as a non-disabled person, someone with sight loss is three times as likely not to be in work.
In many cases a lack of confidence holds a disabled person back, and you can understand why, if you knew you were lacking something that all the other applicants to your dream job had, would you even bother going for it?
But there are lots of things employers can do to show they are open to employing someone with a disability and we’ve complied our top five tips for firms if they have an employee with sight loss.
1. Don’t leave boxes lying about on the floor
It’s not just someone with sight loss that could fall over them, we are all busy rushing about these days and they could prove a hazard for us all.
The same goes for leaving cupboard doors or drawers open.
2. Lighting
Lighting can make a massive difference to someone living with sight loss and can help someone make the most of the sight they have got. It can benefit your entire workforce as well. Did you know that by the time you are 60 you are likely to require three times more light than when you were 20.
Ensure there is an even distribution of light in rooms, no dark corners or bright pools, stark shadows or major differences in light levels. Make sure your windows have blinds on as well to allow staff to adjust natural light when required.
3. Layout
Don’t keep changing the layout of your workplace. Familiarity can really help someone with sight loss, if something is where you expect it to be it can really help your confidence. When you do have to make changes take the time to guide someone with sight loss around and explain all the changes which have been made, it could really benefit them.
4. Information
How do you get your information out to employees? Have you got signs up around your office for staff? If so do they need to be in a larger font? Do your staff know about simple changes they can make to adjust the contrast on their computer to make it easier to read text? If they struggle to read an email – why not call them or just pass on information face-to-face?
5. Just ask
The most important thing is just to ask someone with sight loss what they need.
It can be nerve wracking to talk about disability, particularly if you are worried about saying the wrong thing but if you are polite, respectful and above all genuinely wanting to help they will no doubt appreciate your effort to make life easier for them.
There are many other reasons employers should encourage applications from disabled people it can increase the number of high quality applicants, it helps a firm create a diverse workforce that will probably better reflect its customer base and firms may be able to get help from Access to work to help support some who needs adaptions in the workplace.
Finally, don’t forget an employer has to make ‘reasonable adjustments’ to avoid putting someone with a disability at a disadvantage compared to non-disabled people in the workplace.