Changes to Equality Bill Will Help Disabled Get Employment
Changes have been made to the Equality Bill which will make it easier for people with health issues to at least face job interviews to prove their abilities. This will prove to be a significant improvement for such people, say health charities.
The modified Equality Bill bans the use of pre-employment questionnaires issued by employers even before candidates are interviewed. This amendment will mean that every aspiring employee can now at least reach interview level and show his talents before the employer knows of any health conditions which may or may not affect his chances of employment. This will give such people a better chance at gaining suitable employment without being rejected outright for health issues which may not even affect their working abilities.
The Clause 60 of the Equality Bill outlines specific situations which are the only conditions under which the employer can ask for these details. Otherwise, the job applicant must be allowed to pass interview or other selection criteria to show that he qualifies in other ways for the job he aspires to get.
This amendment was brought by the House of Lords recently and it outlines strict restriction on employers from asking applicants about their health until they actually make an employment offer. Until now, applicants were asked by many employers about their health status, which included questions about medications taken, medical conditions diagnosed and treatments undergone.
Paul Corry, Director of Public Affairs at Rethink gave his blessing for the amendment and said that this will hopefully end discrimination against people with medical problems where employment is concerned. He said that this amendment will help those affected with mental health issues to take their rightful place in the country’s workforce.
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