Inclusive workplaces — a lot done, more to do

Organisations working to promote equality, diversity and inclusion in the workplace speak with Rita de Brún about progress to date and misconceptions that need to change

The European Disability Forum’s ‘Right to Work’ report found that only 51.3% of active, working-age people with disabilities in the EU are in paid employment. This situation is at its worst in Ireland and Greece, with only 32.6% of that cohort being in employment.

In a world in which equality and human rights are increasingly under threat, it’s easy to lose sight of the hard facts. By doing this, we further fail the multitudes whose lives are already being negatively impacted.

While it can be difficult to comprehensively contemplate an issue so vast, it can help to dwell on just one hard fact at a time. 47% of people with disabilities in the EU cannot pay their bills. Once you know that, you can’t unknow it. We owe this much at least to everyone so impacted.