What is the impact of disability discrimination on career opportunities?
impact of disability discrimination on career opportunities
Discrimination is a common problem for people with disabilities in the workplace. It can negatively impact their employment outcomes, which can in turn affect career progression opportunities. Disabled employees may face discrimination in their job interviews, in the way they are treated once they get a job or when applying for promotion. It is also illegal for employers to treat disabled employees less favourably than others for reasons related to their disability, and this includes failing to consider them for promotions.
The Equality Act protects both current and potential employees from disability discrimination, which means that it is unlawful for employers to refuse to hire someone because of their disability or medical condition. This law applies to applicants for a job, current employees and those who have applied to return to work after a period of absence. It covers disabilities such as physical, intellectual, psychiatric, sensory or neurological conditions and it can include a person’s history of disability, even if they are no longer suffering from the condition that caused them to have a disability in the past.
It is also a breach of the Equality Act for employers to fail to make reasonable adjustments (RAs) that enable a disabled employee to do their job. RAs can range from adjusting workplace processes to providing equipment, for example an enlarged computer screen or a wheelchair. However, employers are not required to make a change if it would be a ‘significant difficulty’ or cost them a lot of money.
What is the impact of disability discrimination on career opportunities?
Research has shown that it is important for employers to understand how to support their disabled workers to help them progress in their careers. However, many disabled employees do not receive the RAs they need to do their jobs properly and it is common for this to lead to feelings of frustration and resentment in their workplace. Some disabled employees are reluctant to seek RAs out of fear of being seen as asking for too much, or they do not have the support they need to raise a complaint with their employer.
disability harassment at workplace can stall the professional growth of a worker, which can have long-term impacts on their financial security and overall quality of life. This can lead to poor mental and emotional wellbeing and may result in a reduction in the amount of time they are in paid employment, as well as making them less likely to seek other employment.
Disabled people are encouraged to report instances of disability discrimination to their employer or to the Disability Rights Commission. The Commission can investigate complaints and attempt to resolve cases through conciliation. It can be helpful for complainants to document the discrimination, including recording conversations and emails, as evidence to support their case. Complainants can also seek legal advice from a solicitor to ensure they are protected under the law. It is illegal for an employer to retaliate against a worker for taking legal action. If you feel that you have been the victim of disability discrimination, contact a specialist solicitor to discuss your case.