“Disabled people don’t want to work”
Really?!
Let’s do some myth busting on this and other #DisConceptions.
I’ve heard lots of arguments against employing disabled people but I’ve yet to hear one that’s actually true…
Let’s look at the most common disability misconceptions (#DisConceptions).
1. Providing adjustments for disabled employees will cost me too much.
According to the Business Disability Forum the average cost of providing adjustments is £75 per employee
No. That’s not a typo.
Most adjustments are inexpensive or free, but – in the UK, at least – for adjustments that do cost money, the Access to Work scheme is there to help businesses cover (often 100% of) the cost.
2. Disabled employees are less productive.
Studies show that disabled employees perform just as effectively as non-disabled employees, and many bring unique problem-solving skills, adaptability, and dedication to their roles. A 2017 report by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) showed that disabled employees are just as effective as, or better than, non-disabled employees.
3. Employing disabled people is just a box-ticking exercise. It doesn’t add anything to my business.
A 2018 study by Accenture (that analysed 140 companies) found that businesses that actively employ disabled workers had 28% higher revenue and twice the net income compared to those that did not.
Companies that actively employ disabled people make more money.
4. Disabled employees don’t stay at organisations long so recruitment costs are high.
Again, the Accenture (2018) research found that companies that have inclusive hiring practices, and actively recruited disabled people, saw a 90% increase in employee retention rates.
Disabled employees are often more loyal, reducing the employee turnover costs.
5. Disabled people can’t do highly skilled jobs.
Leonard Cheshire’s “Disability and the Workplace” report show that many disabled people work in high-skill professions. It showed that a significant number of disabled workers are employed in professional, managerial, and technical roles.
15% of disabled people work in professional occupations, such as law, medicine, and teaching.
6. Disabled people don’t want to work - it affects their benefits too much.
A Scope (2018) report shows that 74% of disabled people want to work, and a Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) (2017) report shows that 80% of disabled people not currently in employment want to work.
Disabled people want to work.
ID: a 6-picture carousel with each of the points raised above written on them with sources. Each image is a Robbie Crow image of a purple bordered square, with purple writing against a pale yellow background. Each square has the title “#DisConceptions Disability Myth Busting” with a QR code and copyright info at the bottom.
#DisabilityInclusion #Disability #DisabilityEmployment #Adjustments #DiversityAndInclusion #Content
