Does Your Workplace Need Disabled Parking?

Disabled parking is a very important issue in today’s world. Many, if not most, of us drive nearly every day of our lives to get everywhere we need to go. Work is usually no exception.

Despite the fact that lots of disabled people are able to drive, many workplaces and employers fail to consider their disabled employees when it comes to driving and parking. Parking spaces are usually only ever thought about when providing senior and management staff with their own designated space.

Not having the appropriate disabled parking facilities in a workplace is actually quite a serious issue and can even break the law. To make sure you are following the right rules and guidelines, keep reading this blog to find out more. 

Why Does Disabled Parking Matter?

First things first, let’s think about why disabled parking matters so much. Often, this topic is dismissed as some people believe that it is perfectly suitable for disabled people to park in the same type of spots as other co-workers. The feeling is that parking should simply be first come first served. 

However, the reason disabled parking exists in the first place is that normal parking spots are not accessible for disabled people. They simply do not meet their parking needs. 

Depending on the disability that a person has, they will have different ways of entering and exiting their vehicle. They will also have different types of vehicles and different forms of mobility aids or equipment. In general, disabled people need more room around their cars to get in and out and to manoeuvre their equipment. Normal parking spaces are often very tight with no room on either side of the car. This doesn’t allow disabled people to comfortably and safely navigate their vehicles after parking. 

While it may seem like disabled people are perfectly capable of parking in normal spots, this isn’t the case. Many disabled people would not be able to drive to work and park if there were only standard parking spaces. 

What Does the Law Say?

When it comes to the provision of disabled parking in a workplace, there are two major legal aspects to consider. 

The first is the British Standards Institution recommendations. In reference to disabled parking, the BSI recommends that commercial premises should have one space for every disabled employee who drives to work, plus 5% of the total capacity for visitor parking should be designated as disabled parking, with a further 4% consisting of enlarged standard spaces. 

The second piece of legislation to consider is the Equality Act of 2010, one that we regularly talk about here on Careers with Disabilities. Disabled parking can be considered a reasonable adjustment according to the Equality Act. Therefore, wherever feasible, this must be provided to any disabled employee who needs it. 

Disabled parking allows them to do their job and to comfortably navigate their commute to work, without it they cannot do so, and therefore it is an acceptable reasonable adjustment that must be carried out when requested. 

Overall, the rules and regulations around disabled parking are quite clear. It should be implemented already in any commercial car park. If it isn’t, it should be implemented when needed by a disabled employee. If you don’t have this parking on your premises, it could get you in hot water further down the line. 

Negative Reactions to Disabled Parking

As an employer, it is your duty to care for and support your disabled employees while they are under your roof. When it comes to disabled parking at work, there can, unfortunately, be disagreements about this issue. 

Some people may deem it unfair that disabled spaces are “taking up” the car park. Others may decide they are going to park in a disabled spot even if they aren’t disabled. Furthermore, they might park in such a way that prevents access to the spots.

It is important to handle these situations appropriately and proactively. Send out information and protocol to each member of staff about disabled parking and make it clear that any infringement of a disabled person using this parking would be deemed inappropriate conduct and even harassment. 

To prevent bias, discrimination, and unsavoury conduct at work, you need to be firm in your position as an employer. Lay out the rules and show that there is a zero-tolerance policy around anything that doesn’t promote equality, diversity, and inclusion. 

You might not automatically assume that parking can cause such issues, but it certainly does. The best thing you can do is prevent conflict from happening by being firm from the get-go.

Disabled people deserve to park in a safe and comfortable way in the workplace. Make sure you do everything you can to make this possible. 

Learn What You Need as a Disability-Friendly Employer

It can often be tricky to navigate the world of being a disability-friendly employer. There are a lot of different aspects to consider and many employers often worry about getting it wrong. 

If you would like some help on this journey, you have landed in the right place. 

Here at Careers with Disabilities, we have plenty of tools and resources to help you on your path to becoming a fully accessible and Disability-Confident employer. 

You can check out our Disability Advice Hub for lots of information on a wide range of disabilities and how they impact work. Then, you can check out our guidance for employers to learn about everything from financial compensation to visible and non-visible disabilities. 

Finally, you can take a look at the services we offer employers and post on our disability-friendly job board to connect with disabled job seekers across the country. 

Disabled people deserve employers who care. If you are one of those employers, you can join our network of like-minded companies. Start a brand new path of inclusion and accessibility today. 

Everyone is welcome.

Feel free to contact us via our website or call us on 0345 872 4501. Alternatively, you can email us directly at info@careerswithdisabilities.com.