On 21 May 2026, the House of Commons Work and Pensions Committee (Committee) published its report, Employment support for disabled people: Disability at Work, following an inquiry into the disability employment gap and the effectiveness of existing government support schemes. The inquiry examined why disabled people continue to face barriers entering and remaining in work, despite existing protections under the Equality Act 2010.
The report found that many disabled employees and job applicants continue to encounter avoidable barriers at work. In particular, the Committee highlighted employer reluctance to make reasonable adjustments and concerns about the accessibility of recruitment processes and working environments.
One of the Committee’s central recommendations is that employers should be required to respond in writing to requests for reasonable adjustments within two weeks. Where a request is refused, employers would need to explain whether they accept that the individual is disabled, whether they consider the individual to be placed at a substantial disadvantage, and why the requested adjustment was not considered reasonable. Employers would also need to identify any guidance or advice relied upon when reaching their decision.
The report also recommends that all new employees should receive information about disability rights in the workplace, regardless of whether the employer is aware of any disability. This would include information...
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