During the Covid pandemic, lots of jobs moved to remote home-working but now employers want more people back where they can see them. For disabled people, such moves can create serious limitations: the struggle to travel; negative impact on health; reduced productivity; less work security.
Obviously, employers need to get the best out of their people and boost productivity. But having everyone on site may not be enough nowadays. Surely more robust management processes and productivity measures are needed to match flexible, cost-cutting, talent-using workstyles created by modern IT? There are far better ways of checking on people than relying on remote mouse-movements!
We could boost the economy and cut the dreaded “benefit bill” with more disabled people in gainful employment. But the Government needs to be cleverer too and get away from silo-working. Alongside DWP and the NHS doing their bit, the Business and Trade Department could put time and effort into improving those management skills so CEOs can boast about better productivity, lower real-estate overheads, more talent-retention and demonstrable inclusivity. Win, win!
More: Decline in remote jobs risks shutting disabled people out of work, study finds
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/feb/21/decline-in-remote-jobs-risks-shutting-disabled-people-out-of-work-study-finds?CMP=Share_iOSApp_Other
Finally, if you have had good or bad experience of Access to Work support, let the public accounts committee know. Deadline is tomorrow. Call for Evidence – Committees – UK Parliament