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Retention deficit: a new approach to boosting employment for people with health problems and disabilities
- Authors:
- GARDINER Laura, GAFFNEY Declan
- Publisher:
- Resolution Foundation
- Publication year:
- 2016
- Pagination:
- 56
- Place of publication:
- London
This report looks at the barriers to employment faced by people with health problems or a disability, argues that the current policy focus to tackle these barriers is too narrower, and presents a range of recommendations for change. Specifically, the report focuses on the employment relationship and exits from work. It assess the scale of the employment challenge for people with health problems and disabilities, including geographic comparisons; describes employment transitions connected to disability and ill-health; and evaluates current policy to boosting disability employment in the UK, and highlighting alternative approaches piloted locally or in other countries. It argues that the current UK policy is too benefits-focused, is insufficiently focused on supporting people to remain in work, and that it engages with people too late, reducing their chances of re-entering employment. Recommendations for a new approach cover key challenges of creating a framework for a focus on employment exits; improving support when in work; reforming sickness absence; expanding support to re-enter employment; and enhancing work incentives. They include: an expansion of the Access to Work Programme to maximise its role in supporting people to remain in work; the introduction of a including a ‘right to return’ period of one year; and early referral to the Work and Health Programme for those in receipt of Statutory Sick Pay for whom changing jobs is likely to represent the best chance of a successful return to work. (Edited publisher abstract)