Rishi is in cloud cuckoo land if he thinks employers are rushing to offer jobs…

[dameofdilemma]

To people who have additional needs, a disability, need flexibility or adjustments etc.

The ideal employee most employers want is someone who can wholly focus on work, ideally with no caring responsibilities, no need for flex etc. Employers aren’t thinking how can I help people get back into work. They’re thinking how can I get the most work out of the lowest headcount and cheapest payroll.

Yes lots of employers might offer flex to employees after they’ve worked for them a while and they’ve come to rely on them. But the reality is they’re unwilling to choose a candidate with additional needs over one who has none.

Rishi is blind to the fact lots and lots of people WANT to work but face barriers in the workplace.

What’s even worse is lots of employees have no wish to accommodate colleagues who have additional needs either.

How or why Rishi thinks stopping benefits is the answer is anyone’s guess. But the car lobby voters are too incensed about ULEZ to care apparently so I guess we’ll find out.

Yes, agreed. Expect even more of this nonsense where he plays to the Tory gallery in a desperate attempt to not be wiped out at the election.

Absolutely! When it was in the news a while ago I kept saying more chronically ill people want to work but employers don’t want to employ them.

To reduce the number of people on long term sick, government need to tackle employers.

It sounds like I'm lucky to have a decent employer then, because they do exist.

He employed me at 57 - I have specific skills and experience. Then took it in his stride when I was diagnosed with BC 5 months later. Has been patient while I got through surgery/radio/chemo, recover, get my confidence back.

Having said that, I've worked all the way through albeit from home 5 days a week. Refused to give in. Did my best to hold it together because I'm a single mum and I need my job.

We've come out the other side with a lot of respect for each other.

It can be done.

Let's not forget all those working from home jobs that will be miraculously available for all the disabled people rishi doesn't want on benefits anymore!!! 🙄 cloud cuckoo land. Even the most attractive candidates struggle to find wfh/hybrid jobs.

I remember I started with someone in my first job who had been on benefits for a long time because of long term severe MH issues. She was great, good at the job, she just couldn't manage a FT job long term, went off sick very quickly and was gone within months. And that was a genuinely flexible and accommodating employer - the flexibility and caring approach didn't make her any more able to cope with the reality of having a job. She gave it a jolly good try though and it was a shame.

My employer does everything possible to be flexible make adjustments etc. As a result we genuinely have a really inclusive and diverse workforce. But that doesn't mean we can take on and support "anyone", we need people who have the skills and/or capability and/or experience to get the work done before we can make adjustments to support them to perform well.

Employers can't be expected to take on and pay "anyone" essentially in lieu of them getting benefits just so the govt can say they're employed, there's a balance. Just wait for the suggestion to come that it's employers' fault for not employing all the people rishi doesn't want on benefits anymore by making up jobs for them. He'll expect them to come up with ways that someone can stack supermarket shelves or drive a bus from home.