TUC tells employers to recruit disabled workers

He warned that while disabled people now have legal protection against discriminating employers it can still be extremely difficult for them to find work in the first place.

The position is improving: 46% of people with disabilities are now employed, compared with only 38% seven years ago. But compared to non-disabled people, three quarters of whom are in work, there is still a long way to go.

In addition, wages are lower for the disabled, and they are often passed over for promotion or training, said O'Grady.

He warned:

"New disability legislation has put the onus on local councils and health authorities who now have a duty to do all they can to promote equality towards disabled people and prevent harassment and discrimination whenever it occurs. If the same legal duty were also to apply to private sector firms, discriminating bosses would find themselves with nowhere to hide."

Work and Pensions Minister Anne McGuire added:

"Britain's 10 million disabled people have had to endure a legacy of exclusion, inside and outside of the workplace. We have brought in legislation to help end this, but legislation can only go so far. Employers need to wake up and recognise talent – not disability – when they see it."

The comments come in the wake of a drive by the DRC to destroy the myths surrounding disabled workers.

Supported by the Federation of Small Businesses, the DRC is focusing on debunking five common myths:

• "Disabled people can't work and don't want to work" – There are 3.4 million disabled people, including those with long-term health conditions, already working in this country, says the DRC. Another one million are currently out of work but want a job.
• "Most disabled people are in wheelchairs and we can't cope with them in our workplace or fit them into the sort of work we do" – According to the DRC, thinking that all disabled people use wheelchairs is the equivalent of thinking that all football fans are Chelsea supporters. Wheelchair users make up only about 5% of disabled people. Many people face barriers at work that can be overcome by an enlightened attitude, equipment or flexible working. The Disability Discrimination Act covers people with a wide range of conditions including arthritis, depression, diabetes, dyslexia and chronic heart disease.
• "Disabled employees costs more money" – Some businesses think it costs more to employ disabled people when in fact two thirds of companies employing disabled people say they incurred no extra costs and of the third that do, the average cost for a small employer is £76, says the DRC.
• "Big companies can afford to take on disabled staff, but I run a small business and I can't afford the time or effort it will take" – Not so, says the DRC. There are more than half a million (or 600,000) disabled workers, including people with long-term health conditions, currently working for successful, solvent small businesses. Avoid disabled staff and you miss out on talent, skills, experience and commitment.
• "Disabled people take more sick-leave than non-disabled employees and are less productive" – There is no evidence to suggest that all disabled people are less productive than non-disabled people and plenty of disabled people have exemplary attendance records, according to the DRC.

"Smart businesses realise that providing support to workers makes good business sense," said Bert Massie, Chairman of the DRC. "It also makes sense, cost wise to make small improvements that have minimal outlay rather than incur the increased expense of redundancy and recruitment."

A survey of 1,000 small employers carried out by the DRC found that 85% of respondents would be flexible about making changes to working conditions for employees with the right skills and enthusiasm.