This policy brief distils evidence submitted to the Women and Equalities Committee on flexible working and disability by the Global Policy Network.

 

This submission draws on organisational practices and lived experience to provide insight into the transformative potential of flexible working and the persistent structural and cultural barriers that limit its impact. It sets out why the expansion of flexible working since the Covid-19 pandemic has not yet translated into a significant reduction in the disability employment gap.

 

Flexible working has clear potential to improve access to employment for individuals with disabilities. However, evidence from organisational practice suggests that the core barrier is not policy availability, but inconsistent implementation, limited employer capability, and ongoing cultural resistance. Without addressing these factors, flexible working will remain unevenly applied and its benefits unrealised at scale.