Workplace passports, return to work, and sickness absence

WPA passports emerged in the 1990s when Business Disability Forum (then called Employers Forum on Disability) worked with the MS Society to produce a document for managers and employees to each have a record of agreed workplace adjustments support. This was designed particularly with fluctuating conditions (such as MS) in mind, where different support might be needed at times when an employee’s symptoms are more pronounced than at other times. This document was then called a “Tailored Adjustments Agreement”.

Very soon after this, BT quickly adopted its use and named it “Disability Passport”. They also developed a similar document for employees with caring responsibilities (called a “Carer’s Passport”).

In 2013, many Civil Service Department’s started using what they also called a “Disability Passport” and, in 2015, Cabinet Office published their Talent Action Plan which announced a move to one single and unified disability passport across all Civil Service Departments.