Nearly half of workers with a disability or disabilities (43 per cent) are concealing their condition from work colleagues for fear of harming their job or promotion prospects.
It may not be surprising given the fact that a survey, by Samsung UK, has revealed that nearly half the population are uncomfortable with the words ‘disabled’ or ‘disability’.
The research shows that despite one in five (20 per cent) of people in the UK having a hidden or visible disability, 41 per cent of workers with disabilities said they felt like an outsider and 40 per cent said their colleagues valued them less once they knew of a disability.
Challenges facing disabled workers include:
- Being negatively judged by colleagues (34 per cent)
- Lack of quiet areas in the office (33 per cent)
- General accessibility, e.g., stairs, or space requirements (32 per cent)
- Lack of support (31 per cent)
- Bathroom access/availability (30 per cent)
- Accessing the office building (29 per cent)
The Equality Act 2010 says it is against the law for employers to discriminate because of disability.
It also says that an employer has to make ‘reasonable adjustments’ to avoid workers being put at a disadvantage compared to non-disabled people in the workplace. This could involve adjusting working hours, or providing a special piece of equipment for the job.
Research further shows that when it comes to accessibility in the workplace, almost two thirds (70 per cent) feel their workplace isn’t providing the tech that enables greater accessibility to people with disabilities.
Employers can help by undertaking a range of measures, including:
- Ensuring that technology is user friendly and gives workers greater access
- Supporting wheelchair users by ensuring lifts are available, main passageways and paths are wide enough for wheelchair users, and that light switches are at a level reachable by wheelchair users
- Making sure staff with disabilities are represented at all levels across the business
- Making sure the whole business buys into championing disabled colleagues
- Being inclusive with all employees and never making assumptions about disability.
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