Workforce disability equality standard (WDES)

Download WDES 2025

WDES 2025 summary

Workforce representation

• 12% of the workforce identify as having a disability
• 89% of staff have declared their disability status

Recruitment

• Applicants without a disability are 1.15x more likely to be appointed from shortlisting than those with a disability

Capability process

Staff with a disability are less likely to enter the formal capability process than those without a disability (+ve position)

NHS staff survey insights

• Harassment/bullying/abuse from patients/public:
  • With long-term health condition (LTHC): 26%
  • Without LTHC: 21%
• Harassment/bullying/abuse from managers:
  • With LTHC: 11%
  • Without LTHC: 5%
• Discrimination from colleagues:
  • With LTHC: 18%
  • Without LTHC: 12%
• Perception of fairness in career progression:
  • With LTHC: 59%
  • Without LTHC: 65%
• Pressure to work while unwell:
  • With LTHC: 19%
  • Without LTHC: 14%
• Feeling valued by the organisation:
  • With LTHC: 44%
  • Without LTHC: 51%
• Workplace adjustments in place:
  • 77% of staff who require them have adjustments in place
• Board Representation
  • 11% of the Board identify as having a long-term health condition

Key actions:

• Identify which team had lower % on staff survey for implementing reasonable adjustments and target these areas for promotion and training
• Reasonable adjustments guidance to be included in new managers training programme
• Develop Anti-Discrimination policy
• Undertake a survey and work with staff networks to understand the barriers to career progression

Previous data and action plans

Read more about Our Approach to Equality and Diversity