Received from: Aegis
Merged into composite C06
Conference recognises the growing number of neurodivergent workers, including those with autism, ADHD, dyslexia, dyspraxia and other conditions. Despite protections under the Equality Act 2010, many still face discrimination, inaccessible recruitment processes, and lack of workplace support.
Conference welcomes increasing awareness of neurodiversity across unions and employers but believes national action is urgently needed.
Conference calls on the General Council to campaign for:
i. strengthened equality legislation that explicitly protects neurodivergent workers and mandates neurodiversity training for employers
ii. statutory timelines and legal rights to reasonable adjustments, including for those awaiting a formal diagnosis
iii. recruitment reform requiring accessible processes, clear role descriptions and inclusive assessment methods
iv. mandatory neurodiversity workforce reporting, particularly in large employers and the public sector
v. investment in inclusive apprenticeships and tailored work experience for neurodivergent young people
vi. a national neurodiversity strategy, with union involvement, and the appointment of a dedicated minister for neurodiversity
vii. inclusion of neurodivergent needs in workplace health and safety law,egi including manager training and sensory risk assessments.
Conference resolves to support unions in promoting workplace neurodiversity and campaigning for legislative reform that ensures equity, dignity and opportunity for all workers.
Aegis
AMENDMENT
Add new bullets after bullet vii.:
“viii. “support for parents and carers of neurodiverse individuals”
“ix. the commission of research into the experiences of and challenges facing neurodiverse workers, to ensure that this strategy is grounded in their lived experience and informs the work unions and the TUC are doing going forwards.”
Union of Shop, Distributive and Allied Workers
AMENDMENT
In the first paragraph, after “recruitment processes”, add “inflexible approaches to hybrid working, inconsistent use of reasonable adjustment passports”
In bullet vi., after “neurodiversity strategy”, add “co-created with disabled people and”.
FDA