I held a debate in Parliament about the issue of Employer's role in supporting those with long-term health issue in work. You can see the transcript of the debate here: https://hansard.parliament.uk/Commons/2017-04-18/debates/4394621C-1056-…
Effective support from employers can make an enormous difference to people’s physical, mental and emotional health and to their chances of returning to work. Sadly, the reverse is also true, with evidence showing that many employers do not create a culture where employees can feel comfortable disclosing their health problems. Ground breaking campaigns such as Time to Talk and Heads Together have done much to make it easier for people to speak about their mental health, for example. But too many people are still too scared to speak to their employer and too few employers are ready or equipped to respond in the right way.
I am encouraged that this issue is a priority for the Government in their 'Improving Lives' Green paper. I can assure you that the needs of people with MS will be considered very carefully as part of this. The Government has been clear that what we really need is a system which treats people as individuals, providing support based on what a person is capable of and how their condition affects their ability to work. That is especially important for people with a condition like MS, where the condition can differ greatly between people and can fluctuate over time.
As MS is on a spectrum, many people with MS will be in work. For those who are out of work and claiming Employment and Support Allowance, some will be placed in the Support Group. The Green Paper consults on how people placed in the Support Group can be better supported, to ensure they are able to access suitable employment and health support to fulfil their potential.
The MS Society has highlighted the report of the All Party Parliamentary Group on MS, 'Employment That Works'. The Government's Green Paper looks to address many of the recommendations of that report, such as working with employers to improve attitudes and build networks between employers, employees and charities. The report also calls for expansion of the Access to Work scheme; the Government has committed to help a further 25,000 people per year through the scheme by 2020-21, which will raise the number of people being helped each year to over 60,000.