And the Act won t stop there. The disabled also receive new employment rights under the Act. Employers with 20 or more employees will have to treat disabled staff in the same way as able-bodied staff. The Act had a stormy passage through parliament. Most disability groups, including the major charities, have criticised the vagueness of its wording .
Business organisations are equally alarmed.
Larger businesses are taking steps to avoid any potential legal tangles. But smaller businesses seem unready for change. It says many may be tempted to ignore the Act. Some charities have indicated that they may sponsor individual disabled people, pay their legal costs, in order to arrive at legal precedents that give the Act more force. However, it is a risk.