Disabled staff ‘more likely to experience violence at work’

Cathy Reay

Disabled people are more likely to experience bullying and harassment at work, according to new research.

The survey found that, of 4,000 workers interviewed, those who were disabled or had a long-term illness were more likely to report negative experiences at work.

The survey was conducted by Cardiff University and the University of Glamorgan for the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC), ahead of the government’s planned equality bill.

The survey found that 22.5 per cent of disabled employees interviewed had been subject to “persistent unfair criticism” of their work and performance, compared with 13.4 per cent of those who were not disabled, and 11.6 per cent claimed to have experienced physical violence at work, compared with 5.5 per cent of those without an impairment.

Disabled academic Ruth Patrick (pictured), who specialises in welfare-to-work and disability benefits issues, said: "This timely research demonstrates once more the many barriers and difficulties which disabled people sometimes experience in the workplace.

“When will the government take notice and shift its focus from welfare-to-work and conditionality onto making the workplace truly accessible for all? This means much more than just physical accessibility, as this report highlights."

Jon Sparkes, chief executive of Scope, added: “Sadly, this reflects alarming levels of disablist, aggressive behaviour in wider society, notably the increasing incidence of hate crime against disabled people.

“More needs to be done to tackle discriminatory attitudes among employers, particularly if the government’s welfare reform proposals to support more disabled people into employment are to stand any chance of success.”

The EHRC’s chief executive, Nicola Brewer, said: “Disabled people and those with long term ill-health should be supported to get into, or back into, work, but they'll only stay in work if they are treated with dignity and respect.”

*Insight: work fit for all - disability, health and the experience of negative treatment in the British workplace; to view the full report, visit www.equalityhumanrights.com/en/publicationsandresources/Pages/InsightWorkfitforall-disability,healthandtheexperienceofnegativetreatmentintheBritishworkplace.aspx

1 December, 2008