Is your office move suitable for disabled employees?
Make sure you are clued up about how moving office could affect any employees who require extra mobility or disability considerations.
When committing to an office move no manager would argue the importance of taking into account the individual needs of their employees. One area that should not be overlooked is the welfare of any employees who are disabled or have limited mobility. As an employer you are bound by law to adhere to the Disability Discrimination Act which came into force in 2nd December 1996. Moving to a new office is a perfect time to ensure the design of your office is entirely accessible and compliant.
The Act ensures that it is unlawful to discriminate against those with disabilities when recruiting and employing and also in the buying, rental or management of land or property. This means that when you’re hunting for new office premises or fitting out your office you need to take into considerations disabled access, not only for your employees but clients as well.
Disability is defined as a substantial physical or mental impairment which spans a duration of more than 12 months and affects the person’s ability to do day to day tasks. Mobility access should be considered as part of your new office fit out, ensuring that ramps and rails are fitted where appropriate. It is helpful to consider this aspect while you are discussing your adherence to fire safety regulations. The cost of most adjustments to office environments is generally found to be negligible and most disabled employees are very easy to cater for.
