There is various support and services available to help your staff both within and outwith the workplace.
Access to Work
If you have an employee with a disability or health condition, they may be eligible to apply for a government grant to help pay for practical support in the workplace and managing their mental health at work. Examples include
- specialist equipment and assistive software
- support workers, like a BSL interpreter, a job coach or a travel buddy
- costs of travelling to work, if they cannot use public transport
- adaptations to their vehicle so you can get to work
- physical changes to their working environment.
Learn more about Access to Work
Disability Confident employer scheme
The Disability Confidence Scheme is a UK government initiative designed to encourage employers to think differently about disability and take action to improve how they recruit, retain and develop disabled people. Free guidance and advice is available with three levels of membership available, dependent on your commitment. The Edinburgh Guarantee team are also on hand to help support your business in improving inclusivity and access a wider talent pool.
Disability Confident employer scheme
Parental Employability Support
The Parental Employability Support (PES) team offer support to eligible parents whether they are looking for or are currently in employment. They can offer free one-to-one support to parents to help them retain, sustain and progress in their employment. This can include help with
- access to funding to support upskilling
- access to money/debt/housing/childcare advice and family support
- connecting to wider health and wellbeing support
Parents employed by you could be eligible for support if any of the following apply to them
- lone parent
- parent or child with a disability
- parent of 3 or more children
- parent from a minority ethnic background
- parent with a child under 1 year old
- parent under 25 years old
Employers can contact the Edinburgh Guarantee team to find out more about the support available to eligible parents in your workplace.
Alternatively, parents looking for support can contact the PES team direct
- Call 0131 529 2482
- parentalemployability@edinburgh.gov.uk
Acas
Acas is an independent public body that receives funding from the government. Acas gives employees and employers free, impartial advice on workplace rights, rules and best practice, also offering training and help to resolve disputes.
They provide free and impartial advice to employers, employees and their representatives on
- employment rights
- best practice and policies
- resolving workplace conflict.
When things go wrong, they help to resolve workplace disputes between employers and employees.
You can call their free helpline on 0300 123 1100
Find out more about Acas support
PACE
If your business is under threat of redundancy, Partnership Action for Continuing Employment (PACE) can help. PACE is a Scottish Government initiative, and is a partnership of 24 organisations providing free advice and support to anyone facing redundancy. PACE can help you as an employer by supporting your employees through the redundancy process, offering free, impartial advice. Help is available to all individuals or number of employees affected by redundancy, no matter the size of the business. Visit redundancyscotland.co.uk or call 0800 917 8000 to find out more.
