CareCo, a UK mobility retailer, aims to increase awareness about the “mobility gaps” where employers might unintentionally overlook obstacles that discourage candidates with mobility impairments. According to Scope for Business nearly half of adults who are working age with disabilities feel excluded from the society because of their disability or condition.
It is mandatory to remove mobility-related barriers to make workplaces accessible for all. This can also be a key factor in retaining employees. The adjustments range from providing audio-visual alarms to deaf employees, to installing ramps that allow wheelchair access. Many workplaces are still inaccessible. This leads to the exclusion of people with mobility issues and reduces their employment opportunities.
Common Barriers
- Inaccessible work places: Many workplaces lack ramps, lifts or other modifications essential for wheelchair users.
- Lack of parking: People often struggle to find parking near their workplaces due to a lack of parking spaces.
- Lack Of Awareness: Stigmatisation of people with mobility problems and misconceptions can lead to a hostile work environment.
- Inflexible work hours While flexible working is more popular after COVID, people with mobility issues may need additional adjustments, such as tailored schedules, or remote working options.
These barriers can be a problem for employees who have mobility issues. In the UK, there are over 16 million disabled people and of those, 48 percent experience mobility issues.
The Benefits of Removing Mobility Barriers
CareCo emphasizes the benefits of creating inclusive workplaces for employees with mobility requirements. These benefits go beyond compliance and impact organisational growth as well as employee satisfaction.
- Diversity in the workplace is good for business: Employees with unique perspectives and life experiences are often able to offer innovative solutions. McKinsey found that teams with a diverse mix of people are more likely than those without to be profitable.
- Reduced staff turnover Valued employees are more loyal. Employers can lower the financial burden associated with high turnover rates by creating supportive environments and making adjustments. The average replacement cost is PS25,000.
- Mitigation legal risks Discrimination claims relating to disabilities present significant financial risks. The average award in 2022/2023 for disability discrimination cases reached PS45.435, with the maximum amount reaching PS1,767.869. Employers have a legal obligation to avoid direct and indirect forms of discrimination. They must ensure that policies don’t inadvertently harm individuals with disabilities.
- Access a wider talent pool With 41 percent working-age adults having mobility issues, employers can tap into an underutilised talent base by addressing these obstacles.
Create Accessible Workplaces
Will Harrison, the founder of CareCo said: “The benefits for businesses are enormous and cannot be ignored. The bottom line of any business is affected by the ability to hire from a larger pool of candidates. I would encourage all businesses to examine any barriers they may have put in place which could inadvertently disadvantage anyone with mobility issues. Businesses could lose out on many talented employees who support their growth. We take this very seriously as a Disability Confident employer.
The benefits for both employers and job seekers are enormous.
