Skip to main content

Employer Toolkit for Inclusive Support in the Workplace

Practical, condition-by-condition guidance to help you support employees with a wide range of health conditions, disabilities and neurodiversity. Created by NHS Norfolk and Waveney and adapted for Good Work Campaign.

Support your people with confidence

Every employee’s situation is different. Some people may need short-term support to return from sickness absence, while others may benefit from ongoing adjustments that help them stay well, feel included and continue contributing at work.

This Employer Toolkit has been designed to give Norfolk employers clear, practical and accessible guidance. It brings together condition-specific advice, suggested workplace adjustments and useful considerations for managers, HR teams and business owners.

Whether you are supporting an employee with a mental health condition, a long-term physical health issue, a disability or a neurodivergent condition, the toolkit can help you understand what good support might look like in practice.

How the toolkit works

Use the toolkit to:

  • Understand common conditions and how they may affect people at work
  • Identify practical adjustments that could help employees stay in work
  • Support managers to have sensitive and helpful conversations
  • Improve return-to-work planning after sickness absence
  • Build a more inclusive and confident workplace culture
  • Reduce avoidable absence, turnover and recruitment costs
  • Know when to seek further advice or specialist support

The guidance is not intended to replace medical, legal or occupational health advice. Instead, it gives employers a helpful starting point for understanding different needs and taking positive, practical steps.

Download the guidance you need

To make the toolkit easier to use, each topic is available as a separate downloadable PDF. This means you can quickly access the most relevant guidance for your workplace, your team or a specific employee situation.

You can also download the full Employer Toolkit if you would prefer to keep all of the guidance in one place.

Toolkit topics

Mental health conditions

Including depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder, and PTSD. Guidance to help employers recognise the impact of mental health at work and put supportive, practical steps in place.

Neurodiversity

Including ADHD, autism, dyslexia, and dyspraxia. Practical advice on communication, working environments, role design, and adjustments that can help neurodivergent employees succeed.

Musculoskeletal conditions

Including chronic pain, fibromyalgia, back pain, arthritis, and repetitive strain injuries. Guidance on physical adjustments, flexible working, workload management, and supporting people with pain or mobility challenges.

Long-term physical conditions

Including diabetes, heart conditions, cancer and multiple sclerosis. Advice to help employers understand fluctuating conditions, treatment impacts, fatigue and the importance of flexible support.

Hearing and vision impairment

Guidance on accessible communication, assistive technology, workplace layout and practical adjustments for employees with hearing or sight loss.

Addiction and recovery

Supportive guidance for employers working with employees affected by addiction, recovery or substance-related challenges, with a focus on dignity, safety and appropriate signposting.

Pregnancy, maternity and menopause

Practical advice on supporting employees through all women’s health challernges including endometriosis, pregnancy, maternity-related needs, and menopause, including adjustments, communication, and workplace culture.

Learning disabilities

Guidance to help employers create clearer communication, supportive management approaches and inclusive working practices for employees with learning disabilities.

Need help applying this in your workplace?

Reading guidance is a useful first step, but sometimes it helps to talk through a specific situation. Good Work Norfolk can connect you with an Employment Specialist who can offer personalised advice and practical support.

This support is free and can help you understand what adjustments may be appropriate, how to support an employee returning from absence, or how to create a more inclusive workplace.

Download the full Employer Toolkit (PDF)
Get personalised advice from an Employment Specialist