Disability Discrimination Dominates 2024 WRC Report: A Call for Employer Awareness and Training
The Workplace Relations Commission (WRC) Annual Report for 2024 reveals a sharp increase in disability discrimination complaints, casting a spotlight on the persistent barriers faced by people with disabilities in Irish workplaces and service settings.
In 2024, disability was the most frequently cited ground for discrimination under the Employment Equality Acts. Of the 1,156 complaints referred under this legislation, 25% were based on disability which is a 24% rise on the previous year. Having reviewed the WRC's Annual Report, the team at Ability Focus feel that this trend not only highlights systemic issues within Irish employment practices but also points to a growing awareness among individuals of their rights.
For Irish employers, this data sends a clear message: a failure to properly understand and accommodate the needs of people with disabilities is increasingly likely to result in formal complaints and legal scrutiny. The legislation is unambiguous; employers have a duty to make reasonable accommodations for employees with disabilities, ensuring they are supported to perform their roles and not placed at a disadvantage compared to others.
However, at Ability Focus we believe that compliance with the law should be viewed as a starting point, not a finish line. What's needed is a cultural shift in how disability is understood and supported across Irish workplaces. Key to this shift is contemporary and impactful disability awareness training, and neurodiversity awareness training, coupled with clear, practical guidance on implementing reasonable accommodations.
Disability awareness training and neurodiversity awareness training helps employers and employees alike to recognise unconscious biases, challenge stereotypes, and understand the lived experiences of disabled people in Ireland. It goes beyond policy to foster empathy and understanding crucial ingredients for creating inclusive, respectful environments.
Reasonable accommodation training empowers managers and HR professionals to take practical, compliant actions. This includes adapting roles, providing assistive technologies, modifying workspaces, or altering work schedules in ways that enable disabled employees to thrive. Many of these adjustments are low-cost but high-impact; yet without the right training, they are often overlooked or mishandled. This is why CPD certified Reasonable Accommodation Training is so important for managers an HR professionals to complete.
The rise in disability discrimination complaints shows that while progress has been made in awareness, the practical application still lags behind. Proactive investment in disability awareness training and reasonable accommodation training not only reduces legal and reputational risk, but also builds stronger, more resilient organisations where all individuals can contribute fully.
As the WRC's 2024 figures show, the time for employers to act is now through 90% grant funded disability awareness training and reasonable accommodation training. Those who take steps to educate themselves and embed inclusive practices will not only comply with the law; they will lead the way in creating a more equitable and productive Irish workforce.
If you are interested in finding out more about Ability Focus and how we can assist your organisation to access 90% grant funded Disability Awareness Training, Neurodiversity Awareness Training and Reasonable Accommodation Training please contact the office on (01) 699 1150 or email info@Abilityfocus.ie
Stephen Kelly - Managing Director, Ability Focus