Workplace disability research shows huge room for improvement

On the back of the federal government’s response to the Disability Royal Commission last week, newly released research found:

• 42% of people with disability had experienced discrimination or harassment at work
• 40% of organisations don’t collect data on disability status
• 35% of people with disability are excluded from social gatherings
• 16% work in non-inclusive workplaces.

According to the Disability Data at Work report released today by the Diversity Council Australia (DCA) in collaboration with the Australian Disability Network, the levels of discrimination and harassment are almost double those of people without disability.

It is estimated that 2.2 million people in the Australian workforce live with disability.

The report also found that even when organisations collected data about workers with disability, nearly one third of workers didn’t disclose their disability for fear of being overlooked for promotions, because of concerns about privacy, or because of doubts about the benefit of doing so.

One respondent to the study told researchers, “I am often overlooked and discriminated because of my disability – there’s the assumption of not being capable.”

Another said, “I will not share [my disability status] because people with this disability are often seen as unreliable, scatter-brained, impulsive, and untimely even when treated with medication. I prefer not to be seen like this.”

Another worker said they toned down the impact the disability had on their health.

“I downplay the toll that my disabilities take on my personal health to fit in better,” they said.

DCA chief executive Lisa Annese said the findings from the recent Royal Commission into Violence, Abuse, Neglect and Exploitation of People with Disability highlighted the need for better data on employment to address the challenge. She said the report “underscores the urgent need for organisations to adopt inclusive practices that respect and empower all employees”.

The DCA report prescribes best practices for organisations and is available to members of the DCA.

“By enhancing our understanding of disability data collection and implementing leading practices outlined in the report, organisations can foster environments where every employee feels valued, respected, and fully supported,” Ms Annese said.

The insights come from the biennial Inclusion@Work Index survey produced by the DCA.

Australian Disability Network chief executive Corene Strauss said disability data enabled organisations to track progress in addressing the disability employment gap.

“We can’t fix what we don’t understand,” she said.

DCA research director Dr Jane O’Leary will outline the research findings today, August 7, at a launch webinar which will also features a panel conversation between

• DCA board member Manisha Amin
• Australian Disability Network head of consultancy Emma Henningsen
• Microsoft Asia’s Kenny Singh
• NRMA group inclusion and diversity manager Courtney Pond.

More information

Access the research | Attend the launch webinar