Employers
Employment for disabled people
Disabled people bring diverse and valuable skills and perspectives to the workplace. They contribute to a workforce that reflects the community and customers it serves.
What you cannot do
You cannot discriminate against any applicant or employee on a range of grounds, including disability.
Support for employers
- The Ministry of Social Development (MSD) has developed the Lead Toolkit: A guide for employing disabled people. The Lead Toolkit contains a range of information and resources for leadership teams, managers, and human resources teams to help them employ disabled people within their organisations.
Lead programmes of work by the Ministry of Social Development.(external link)
- Work and Income provides support for employers to employ and manage disabled people and people with health conditions, including modification grants. Modification grants can help pay for things like ramps, handrails, and visual aids.
- The Flexi-wage subsidy - Work and Income can help you employ someone who is getting a government benefit. You may also be able to get help with their training costs.
The Flexi-wage subsidy - Work and Income(external link)
- Skills for industry funding can help employees develop industry-specific skills they need to do their job.
Skills for industry funding - Work and Income(external link)
- Minimum wage exemptions are available for some people who have a disability that limits them from carrying out the requirements of their job.
Employer Advice Line
If you have any questions about becoming a disability-confident organisation, you can call the Employer Advice Line on 0800 805 405. The advice line is free and is available from Monday – Friday, 8:30am – 5:00pm.
Resources and support for disabled employees and jobseekers
- Employment | Whaikaha - Ministry of Disabled People provides resources for disabled job seekers.
Employment | Whaikaha - Ministry of Disabled People(external link)
- Health and disability job support - Work and Income can help disabled people and people with a health condition to find a job.
Health and disability job support - Work and Income(external link)
- Mainstream programmes - Work and Income provides information about programmes to help disabled people and people with a health condition get into paid work.
Mainstream programmes - Work and Income(external link)
- Transition to Work Grant - Work and Income may be able to help pay for things you need to find or start a job.
Transition to Work Grant - Work and Income(external link)
- Job and training support funds – Work and Income can cover the costs of things like workplace assessments, job coaching, and costs of transport and parking to help disabled people or people with a health condition find and stay in a job.
Job and training support funds – Work and Income(external link)