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Media release 30 July 2002
Groundbreaking partnership is win win situation for employers and disabled people
A groundbreaking partnership between Jobcentre Plus, the Employers' Forum on Disability and leading income protection provider, UnumProvident, will help Jobcentre Plus to develop relationships with employers across Britain, and thereby significantly reduce the number of disabled people unnecessarily out-of-work.
Today the partnership launches The Knowledge - Disability Solutions for Employers, a 'best practice' reference kit which concentrates on providing employers with the benefits of, and tools needed for, an inclusive approach to disabled employees. There are currently over a million disabled people in the UK who want to work, but cannot find employment.
The new partnership marks a major shift in Jobcentre Plus working practices, with an emphasis on UK businesses as clients, in addition to unemployed people. Challenging misconceptions about disability, The Knowledge highlights the case for positioning disability as a strategic business priority, reflecting the experience of the UK and international communities, as well as findings from the latest academic research. Also explained, is why many UK businesses have previously remained unconvinced of the importance of disability within the broader diversity perspective.
On a practical level, The Knowledge will help employers manage the legislation; make reasonable adjustments; and access government funds available to them for making any reasonable adjustments that may be needed to help disabled people into jobs. Employers' misconceptions about hiring disabled people can contribute to the existing barriers faced by people with a disability who want to work. A recent survey of 200 senior directors by UnumProvident found that one in three senior directors said they felt the majority of employers, when considering two candidates of equal experience, would opt for a non-disabled candidate in preference to a disabled applicant - even if their disability was not a hindrance to performing the job. This is despite the fact that evidence indicates organisations currently employing disabled people are keen to continue doing so.
“When we start from a very different perspective; what the employer needs and what a person - who happens to be disabled - can do, the results are startlingly effective. I hope The Knowledge will stimulate more employers to want to work with us, enhancing their business with talent and opportunity.”
Leigh Lewis, CEO of Jobcentre Plus
“Currently, we have a situation where less than 50% of disabled adults are in a job and 2.3 million are on Incapacity Benefit. Shifting perceptions that prevent employers from accessing available talent is the key to improving this situation. I congratulate Jobcentre Plus on taking a fresh approach by building relationships with business to affect change in long-term unemployment.”
Susan Scott-Parker, Chief Executive, The Employers' Forum on Disability
“It is in everyone's interest to help those disabled people who want to work find jobs. Currently, 36% of UK employers complain of staff shortages. We also estimate that the Government would benefit from an extra £5 billion a year if 500,000 people came off Incapacity Benefit into work - and this is 500,000 people who say they wish to work.”
Joanne Hindle, Corporate Services Director of UnumProvident
Jobcentre Plus' Disability Employment Advisors will distribute the packs through their disability symbol network and to any other businesses they engage with.
Ends
Notes to editors
About The Employers' Forum on Disability
The Employers' Forum on Disability is recognised as the authoritative voice on disability as it affects business. It is also the world's leading publishing house on disability in the workplace, making it easier for business to work with disabled people as employees, customers and partners. The Forum is funded and managed by over 370 members, which between them employ over 5 million people, or 22% of the UK workforce.
About UnumProvident
UnumProvident is the UK's leading provider of group income protection insurance, with over 30 years of experience and 30%* of the group market. Our critical illness and life insurance products enable our customers to purchase complementary protection that together make a comprehensive protection package.
Our income protection customers benefit from our expertise in the specialist areas of disability, rehabilitation and return-to-work. We enable individuals to protect their incomes, ensuring their financial security if they are unable to work because of illness or injury. For employers, we safeguard one of their most valuable resources by helping employees return to work following long-term absence.
At the end of 2001, UnumProvident protected 790,000 lives and had more than 9,800 schemes. During 2001 we paid benefits of over £116 million - of which more than £pound;91 million were in income protection.
Our US parent company, UnumProvident Corporation, traces its history back to 1848 and is today the market leader of group and individual income protection insurance in the United States. Premium income for UnumProvident Corporation and its subsidiaries exceeded $7 billion in the year ended 31 December 2001. Total assets were $42.4 billion at 31 December 2001.
Earlier this year, UnumProvident hosted a New Beginnings Symposium, at which the benefits to employers and the wider community of employing disabled people were highlighted.
*Source: GE Frankona Re 2002
About Jobcentre Plus
Jobcentre Plus is an enhanced service for both employers and people of working age. The enhanced environment of "Jobcentre Plus-ed" offices is symptomatic of this new approach which explicitly links benefit-claiming with exposure to job opportunities. The service includes:
- Provision of advice on benefits, training and work opportunities under one roof.
- An efficient appointment system in line with other customer-focussed high street services.
- Touch-screen Jobpoints for easy access to vacancies Europe-wide, as well as newspapers and Internet access available on a drop-in basis.
- Support from Personal Advisers to give an individual service.
- A professional, comfortable, user-friendly environment.
Jobcentre Plus is part of DWP and is headed by a Chief Executive. It replaces the Employment Service (which ran Jobcentres) and those parts of the Benefits Agency which provided services to Working Age clients through Social Security Offices.
Jobcentre Plus Timelines:
October 01 – March 02: 56 "Pathfinder" offices were set up / converted all over the country to offer the Jobcentre Plus service.
1st April 2002: Launch of Jobcentre Plus nationwide. Announcement of the 225 areas which will be "Jobcentre Plussed" between October and April 2003. While separate Jobcentres and Social Security Office buildings are still visible on the high street, elements of the Jobcentre Plus service have already been introduced (eg touchscreen Jobpoints are available in all Jobcentres).
April 2003 – April 2004: Rollout of Jobcentre Plus to more areas.
April 2004 – 2005: Rollout of Jobcentre Plus to more areas.
For Employers:
Through the Jobcentre Network, we have more than 1500 Jobcentre Plus offices, Jobcentres and Social Security Offices nationwide, which will help you fill your vacancies efficiently, effectively and without charge. We provide recruits for a wide range of employers across all sectors.
Contacts:
Jobseeker Direct (helpline for customers): 0845 6060 234 (textphone 0845 605
5255)
New Deal: 0845 606 2626 (textphone 0845 606 0680)
Websites:
For further information please contact:
John HutsonHead of Public Relations
UnumProvident
T: 01306 873471
Email: john.hutson@unumprovident.co.uk Employers' Forum on Disability
Telephone: (020) 7089 3020
Email: media@employers-forum.co.uk
Department for Work and Pension Press Office - (020) 7238 0866.