Barclays

Barclays reasonable adjustments scheme provides and accessible and structured process so that employees and line managers know who to contact for help. Assessments are used to resolve issues by phone or personal visit. A reasonable adjustment toolkit is available on the intranet and in alternative formats. This is supported by a reasonable adjustments pack which includes full information about the scheme and a DVD illustrating how the scheme works in practice.

Both costs and timescales involved in resolving adjustments issues have been reduced significantly.

During the pilot phase of the scheme, 59 cases were recorded. In the first 3 months of the scheme over 500 cases have been dealt with. People who had previously been on long-term sick leave have been able to return to work rather than risk losing their job. New products have also been developed, such as a cashier chair designed for colleagues with back problems.

The scheme supports Barclays' compliance with the Disability Discrimination Act and ensures that the bank remains an industry leader in employee welfare.

The scheme places a primary focus on ensuring that colleagues can work to the best of their abilities whatever their location. This helps to reduce absenteeism and return to work rates which can have a direct impact on team and corporate performance. This in turn will have a positive impact on Barclays' responsible treatment of employees in the workplace.

For our disabled colleagues, it has enabled them to continue contributing to the business with ongoing support which has personal long-term benefits.

Once the scheme has become embedded it will become business as usual and will be closely measured to ensure its effectiveness. However, budgets will remain centralised to ensure that funds continue to be available for the scheme.

By sharing the lessons learned with Health and Safety, IT and Facilities Management, the scheme will continue to improve elements across the bank for all colleagues in future.

Mark Palmer-Edgecumbe, Senior Diversity Manager

The idea for the scheme came from the Disability Listening Groups held by John Varley, Barclays CEO. It became apparent through work with organisational health suppliers that there were many staff who could benefit from reasonable adjustments to help them return to work or to reduce levels of sickness absence.

The project team brought together a range of stakeholders, both internal and external, with a range of project management, IT, communications, HR and health and safety knowledge and skills. External partners included AXA Insurance, PPP Health care provider, Amicus trade union, Access to Work - the Government scheme to support adjustments for disabled people, Royal National Institute for the Blind, Royal National Institute for the Deaf and the Dyslexia Association.

www.barclays.com