Secrets & Big News: Enabling people to be themselves at work - Paperback

by Kate Nash Obe (Author)

Secrets & Big News is an engaging read about the subject of 'declaration' and 'disclosure' of disability in the workplace. Based on a two-year research project, the book details the reasons why people find it hard to share information and offers ideas for both employers and employees alike. 55 employers took part in the study and together they reached just over 2,500 of their employees who offered their views about what makes it hard to share personal information, as well as what makes it easier. The book is triggering a wave of new conversations between valuable employees and UK and global businesses. The book is not about medicine, politics or disability rights: it's about what it means to be human and how employers can retain their talented people through periods of ill health and disability. The text is full of practical hints and tips for HRM professionals, diversity and inclusion specialists and employee network leaders. The Advisory Board for the project included representatives from Lloyds Banking Group, Business Disability Forum, Business in the Community, BT, Shell, Metropolitan Police Service, Coca Cola, and the Civil Service Disability Network. Secrets & Big News outlines 15 'Big Ideas' for employers about how they can make it easier for their staff to share information about their disability and 15 'Big Ideas' to disabled people about how to be more disability confident themselves. The report builds on the government's recent Disability Confident campaign and engagement with employers across the UK.

Author Biography

Kate Nash is the UK's most prolific connector of disabled talent in work. She established Kate Nash Associates in 2007, an independent hub of best practice in the establishment of workplace networks and resource groups. In seven years they have set up, or refreshed the delivery of, 300+ networks in the business community and across the public sector. The reach of disabled employees across the KNA client base exceeds 850,000 in the UK. Kate started her early career supporting disabled people to set up self-help support groups. She has worked in many disability organisations and was Chief Executive of Radar between 2001-2007. She chaired the merger between Radar, Disability Alliance and National Centre for Independent Living in 2012. Having campaigned for many years for equalities legislation for disabled people she was awarded an OBE in 2007 for services to disabled people.