Hire disabled people or people with health conditions
Employing and supporting disabled people is a normal part of a modern workplace. We can work with you and your employee to make your workplace accessible and inclusive.
We have support available if your employees are disabled or have health conditions. This includes people who are neurodivergent or have mental health conditions.
You can apply for this support for someone you’re considering hiring, or for someone already working for you. Talk to your employee about what support might be right for them.
Your responsibilities as an employer
As an employer, you must provide equitable employment opportunities when you're hiring someone. You also need to remove barriers that may disadvantage disabled employees.
To do this you need to make reasonable accommodations or adjustments. This means you change the way the employee's work is done, or make changes to the work environment, so they can do their job.
There's more information about reasonable accommodations on the Human Rights Commission website:
Reasonable Accommodation Guidelines (Human Rights Commission)external
Ways we could support you
As part of our employment service, we have specialist employment coordinators who can support you to hire a disabled person.
If you’re interested in this, call our Employer Services team on 0800 778 008.
Job and Training Support Funds
Your employee may be able to get Job and Training Support Funds to pay for things like:
- specialised equipment and workplace modifications (for example, ramps or handrails)
- a job coach
- a New Zealand Sign Language (NZSL) interpreter
- transport and parking costs
- training.
Your employee will need to apply for Job and Training Support Funds, and you will need to provide information for their application.
Job and Training Support Funds
Mainstream programmes
Mainstream employment programmes help people disabled people into sustainable employment. Your business may be able to get:
- an employment service provider to help you hire someone with the skills your business needs
- a partial or full wage subsidy
- funding for training and equipment
- on-the-job support for new employees.
Other support we can offer
We also offer other support for employers and their staff: