Government launches consultation on disability support and workplace adjustments
On 18 March 2025, the Government published a Green Paper and consultation setting out proposals to reform health and disability benefits, with a particular focus on improving employment outcomes for disabled people.
Green Paper
The Green Paper, Pathways to Work: Reforming Benefits and Support to Get Britain Working, explores how the benefits system, employer practices and government support schemes can work better together to support disabled people and those with long-term health conditions to enter and remain in work. It marks the start of a broader conversation about how to remove barriers to employment and includes specific proposals for reforming the Access to Work scheme and encouraging more consistent implementation of workplace adjustments.
The Green Paper highlights that only 23% of employers report providing workplace adjustments for disabled employees and those with long-term health conditions. It also notes that the Access to Work scheme currently supports just 1% of working disabled people. The government is therefore seeking views on how it can better support employers to make workplaces more inclusive and ensure that disabled workers receive timely and effective support. The consultation is scheduled to close on 30 June 2025, 12 weeks after the accessible versions of the Green Paper become available.
Key proposals for reform
The Government is considering a review of the existing legal duties under the Equality Act 2010 relating to reasonable adjustments, and an assessment of the effectiveness of the support currently provided to both employers and individuals. It is also exploring improvements to the advice and guidance available to employers, as well as the enforcement powers of relevant regulatory bodies.
The consultation seeks feedback on a range of issues, including:
- How best to raise employer awareness of workplace adjustments
- What support under the Access to Work scheme should be directly funded by the Government
- What the future structure and delivery model of the Access to Work scheme should look like
- How the roles of Access to Work, the Health and Safety Executive (HSE), Acas and the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) can be better coordinated to drive a cultural shift in employer practices.
The Keep Britain Working review, which is linked to the Green Paper, is expected to publish further recommendations in autumn 2025.
Focus on assistive technology
The Green Paper also recognises the potential of assistive technology (Atech) to help disabled people access and remain in employment. As part of its proposals, the government intends to launch a new digital resource to raise awareness of Atech this year, and will establish an expert working group to advise on its use in the workplace.
Next steps for employers
Employers should consider reviewing the Green Paper and responding to the consultation, particularly if they have experience with Access to Work or implementing workplace adjustments. The proposals may lead to changes in government support and, potentially, greater regulatory expectations. This is also an opportunity for organisations to review their current practices around reasonable adjustments, inclusive recruitment and workplace accessibility, and to engage proactively with the government’s proposals for reform.