Disability discrimination occurs when individuals with underlying disabilities or those who are associated with a disabled person in one form or another are treated differently in certain aspects of their life. Approximately 470 million people globally, who are of working age, have some kind of disability and they differ in the degree to severity and nature of the impairment. In addition to that, certain factors such as economic status, gender, and age, impact an individual’s professional progress in the job market.
Whether the disability of an individual is noticeable or not, it is against the law to treat someone differently because of their disability. For instance, disability discrimination might include facing discrimination based on an individual’s mental or physical disability in employment’s various aspects such as hiring, recruitment, job assignments, firing, training, promotions, leave, pay, lay off, benefits, and numerous other activities related to employment. Disability discrimination can also be identified as being harassed by one’s employee based on their disability.
Individuals with disabilities are more likely to suffer higher rates of unemployment and they are also likelier to face discrimination during the initial hiring stages.
According to a survey conducted in France on a group of individuals with disabilities, less than 2% of those surveyed individuals who mentioned their conditions on their Resumes were shortlisted for the interview process.
To minimize risk for employers, individuals with disabilities are mainly hired through non-permanent agencies. Females with disabilities are more likely to face sexual harassment or verbal abuse and they also have lesser chances than their male counterparts to find good-paying jobs. Whereas the discrimination aggravates with age.
What Do The Statistics Show?
According to a study conducted by the Declaration on Fundamental Principles and Rights at Work, the following statistics for disability discrimination were revealed:
- More than 60% of individuals with disabilities are of legal working age. However, the unemployment rate experienced by them is 80% to 100% higher than workers who don’t face any disability.
- 52% of the individuals with disabilities in Europe have not participated in the corporate or professional world.
- A 2003 survey conducted on a group of employers in the USA revealed that approximately 73% of those employers believed that their employees with underlying disabilities, did not require any exceptional provisions for their daily activities.
- In the UK, individuals with disabilities are four times more likely to suffer from unemployment than individuals without any disabilities.
- Two-thirds of the surveyed unemployed individuals with disabilities reported wanting to join the labor force but had a difficult time finding an appropriate job.
- In Australia, the wage gap for females with disabilities is 44% higher than for females without disabilities. Whereas for males, the wage gap is 49% higher than males without disabilities.
Direct Discrimination
Direct discrimination occurs when an individual with a disability is treated unfairly than his/her other employees because of his/her disability.
Indirect Discrimination
Indirect discrimination occurs when an organization/corporation assigns such tasks to an individual with a disability, that might negatively affect his health or put his well-being at risk.
What To Do If You’re Facing Disability Discrimination?
Disability discrimination in the workplace has been on a rise in the past few years. If you are facing disability discrimination at your workplace, it is better to take immediate action. The Americans with Disabilities Act shelters employees and applicants from facing disability discrimination during their employment period, such as the hiring period, the benefit period, and also the termination. Similar laws are present for many states and local governments too. You can either: file an internal complaint, assert your rights, file a charge of discrimination, or file a lawsuit. Remember, no individual deserves to be treated unfairly because of where they come from or because of their disability.
