Grounded in legislation, shaped by employee expectations and fast becoming a competitive differentiator, workplace accessibility remains a business imperative in 2025.
Whether your organisation operates in the UK, the US or both, understanding the evolving accessibility standards is crucial to staying compliant and creating an environment where every employee can thrive.
In this blog, we break down the key regulations shaping workplace accessibility in 2025 across the UK and US. We cover what’s changing, what’s expected and why embedding accessibility into your workplace culture isn’t just the right thing to do, it’s also smart business.
Beyond compliance, workplace accessibility reflects how organisations value their people. It’s about enabling independence, confidence and equal opportunity for everyone.
But here’s the shift. Accessibility is now being recognised as a strategic advantage and businesses that lead in this space are:
Governments are taking note, too, strengthening accessibility requirements and pushing for greater accountability.
As the core accessibility legislation in the UK, the Equality Act protects individuals from discrimination in the workplace and requires employers to make “reasonable adjustments” for employees with disabilities.
Even though this legislation was last updated 15 years ago, it’s still as critical for businesses and employers today as it was back then.
What it means in practice:
Reasonable adjustments must be proactive, not reactive. In other words, employers shouldn’t wait for an employee to raise a concern.
Although the UK is no longer part of the EU, the European Accessibility Act (EAA), which takes effect in June 2025, still matters for UK-based organisations offering products or services within the EU, so aligning with EAA standards is a strategic and reputational must.
Our more in-depth guide breaks the regulation down in more detail, but as an overview, companies in the UK must:
Another critical regulation making waves in 2025 is the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD). While it's an EU directive, which came into effect in January 2024 for large companies and will extend to smaller companies next year, its European operations impact many UK-based multinationals.
The CSRD requires businesses to disclose how they treat social and employee matters, including disability inclusion and workplace accessibility.
You can learn more about the CSRD and its effect on the disability community in this dedicated article.
For UK companies, this means that:
While no new UK-specific accessibility legislation has been announced for 2025, there’s growing momentum behind:
The best approach? Don’t just do the minimum. Go beyond compliance and use standards like the EAA and CSRD as frameworks for leadership in accessibility.
In the United States, there are a number of well-established federal protections that are relevant to workplace accessibility. While these foundational laws remain in place, their practical application and the broader emphasis on digital inclusion and proactive compliance can be influenced by the evolving political landscape.
The cornerstone of accessibility in the US is the ADA, particularly Title I, which covers employment.
ADA compliance includes:
This long-standing regulation has actually had some recent updates that are important to be aware of today.
For example, the HHS Office for Civil Rights (OCR) finalised updates to Section 504 regulations in May 2024. These clarify and strengthen civil rights protections, address discrimination in medical treatment, add enforceable standards for accessible medical diagnostic equipment and ensure accessible web content and mobile apps.
This is a significant update as it's the first change to Section 504 in 50 years. While there was a lawsuit in late 2024 by several states challenging these updates, the states have recently dropped their constitutional claim against Section 504 itself, though they continue to challenge the updated regulations.
Elsewhere, the most significant update was the "Section 508 Refresh" which came into effect in 2017, to align with WCAG 2.0 AA criteria around digital content accessibility.
Many private sector companies, especially in tech and healthcare, are adopting WCAG (Web Content Accessibility Guidelines) standards voluntarily to reduce legal risk and improve usability.
What this looks like in practice:
In 2025, failing to prioritise digital accessibility is more than a UX issue; it’s a liability.
Litigation related to digital accessibility continues to rise in the US, with thousands of lawsuits filed annually.
That’s why many leading organisations are reframing compliance as an opportunity by:
That shift mirrors what’s happening globally as accessibility becomes a core part of ESG and DE&I strategies.
If your organisation spans both regions, aligning with global accessibility standards is more important than ever. While terminology and regulations differ, the direction is clear:
Here’s how to get ahead:
Here’s the truth. Meeting accessibility standards shouldn’t feel like a burden, it should feel like an opportunity.
Companies that lead on accessibility aren’t just avoiding lawsuits or ticking boxes. They’re building workplaces where:
Accessibility signals that your business is thoughtful, modern and invested in people. And in 2025, that’s the kind of employer people want to work for and the kind of partner others want to work with.
Getting started doesn’t have to be overwhelming. Here are the first three steps to help you turn compliance into impact.
Mobility Mojo’s Workplace Accessibility Assessment helps organisations benchmark accessibility across physical spaces and digital systems. It’s simple, scalable and provides tangible insights.
Even if your company isn’t based in the EU, aligning with these directives helps future-proof your accessibility efforts.
From HR and facilities to procurement and IT, accessibility needs to be a shared responsibility. Start conversations, set goals and create a culture of inclusion.
As workplace accessibility standards evolve, the organisations that succeed won’t be the ones who do the bare minimum. They’ll be the ones who lead with intention by making accessibility part of their DNA.
Whether you're in the UK, the US or both, 2025 is the year to go beyond compliance and build workplaces where everyone belongs.
Discover how Mobility Mojo can support you along the journey.