Is Flexible Working Really Better for Disabled People?

Since the Covid-19 pandemic, there have been more alternative forms of work on offer than ever before. Remote, hybrid and flexible work options are the main alternatives we have seen to 9-5 office work. And they show no sign of decreasing in popularity after the pandemic has finished. 

This is a topic of particular importance to the disabled community. Alternative forms of work are more critical for disabled people than for anyone else. Without alternative forms of work, many disabled people wouldn’t be able to work at all. And with the disability employment gap being where it is, we don’t need any more barriers for disabled jobseekers. 

Despite this, whether flexible working is really better for disabled people or not is an interesting question, and it might not be as simple as we might initially think. In this blog, we are going to explore this question in more detail.

What is Flexible Working?

First things first, let’s clear up what we mean by flexible working. Flexible working typically means working outside of a classic Monday-Friday, 9-5, in the office scenario. It is a variation of this rigid model that allows people to have more autonomy and fluidity with how they work. 

Flexible working tends to primarily include changes to the work hours someone does. For many people, this may look like having a contract of 36 hours that must be covered between Monday and Friday, but those hours can be obtained any time from 7 am to 7 pm each day. Meaning you can pick your own start and finish times. In other cases, “flexi-time” is the model. Within flexi-time, employees can build up hours by working extra on certain days and then using these extra hours to accrue time off. 

As well as flexibility within working hours, flexible working can also include flexibility around being in the office/shared workspace or being at home. This is something that we have seen particularly so after the pandemic. Many companies may now opt for a hybrid approach to work, in which they allow their employees to split their working time between being at home and being in the office. How this works in the details changes from company to company. 

How Can Flexible Working Benefit Disabled People?

The different forms that flexible working can take can benefit disabled people in a range of ways. For flexible working hours, the benefits can be: 

• Setting your own hours to manage particularly painful/symptomatic periods of the day 
• Having time to schedule doctor’s appointments, treatment, and clinic visits without needing to miss work 
• Commuting in less busy times 
• Working less when needed for health reasons and being able to build that time back up again without taking absence 
• Being able to respond to your body’s needs more freely 

For hybrid and remote working models, the benefits can include: 

• Building your own work environment to suit your needs at home
• Having less commuting and travelling to do
• Resting more easily when necessary 
• Having your own equipment that makes your job easier at home
• Having easier access to doctor’s appointments and treatment 

Overall, flexible working can allow disabled people to manage to work with a disability in an easier and more intuitive way. It is easier to factor in bad days and the need for external support, without having the person lose time from work and be more financially insecure. 

What is the Flip Side?

One of the main potential issues we have when discussing this topic is that we can attempt to decide what disabled people want for them. We can also unfairly assume that all disabled people want and benefit from the same things. 

It is important to note that not all disabled people want to work from home or benefit from doing so. All disabilities are different and all people with disabilities are different. Some people may find working from home distracting or limiting. 

In terms of flexible working hours, some disabled people, especially those with autism, learning difficulties, and special needs, may not like the disruption in routine and consistency. For some disabled people, having flexi-time and flexible working contracts may be more stressful than it may be beneficial.

The bottom line, therefore, is that while it seems to be the case that flexible working can indeed be a very worthwhile thing for disabled people, it needs to be something that comes with a choice and that gives the person a sense of autonomy. Disabled people very often have things imposed upon them. They can regularly feel infantilised and limited by not being given the same range of choices as their non-disabled counterparts. 

The best way forward in modern working is to offer disabled people a range of choices in how they work. While this might not always be logistically simple, it is the best way to be as inclusive as possible to a wide range of disabilities. People deserve more choice and freedom in how they work. Maybe that is the true flexibility that wins over all others. 

How We Can Help at Careers with Disabilities

At Careers with Disabilities, we believe in helping disabled people enter the careers they want, in whatever form that takes.

We can help disabled job seekers find flexible, remote, hybrid, and all other kinds of jobs with our disability-friendly job board. There, you can find opportunities that put disabled people first. You can also find the employers you want to work with on our directory of inclusive and accessible employers. 

Whatever you need to enter a career as a disabled person – we have it right here. 

And if there is information you don’t see that you think would be valuable, send us a message and get in touch.