Table of contents:
Employers’ perceptions and misconceptions
Responses regarding employing persons with disabilities varied between the public and private sectors. As shown in figures 2 and 3, more than half of public sector employers believed that persons with disabilities were more susceptible to accidents and injuries, as did more than three quarters of respondents from the private sector. More than half of respondents from both the public and private sectors thought that persons with disabilities were not as productive as other employees. One quarter of respondents from the private sector assumed that customers would feel uncomfortable around persons with disabilities. Respondents also expressed concerns that accommodations for persons with disabilities would be too expensive; they would not be able to communicate with them; health insurance would be too expensive; and they would not be able to work normal hours.
| Challenge | Private Sector | Public Sector |
|---|---|---|
| Yes | Yes | |
| They are not as productive as other employees | 52.4 | 54.5 |
| Hiring them is too costly due to reasonable accommodation | 9.5 | 9.1 |
| Costs for health insurance provided by the institutions would be higher than usual | 9.5 | 0 |
| They are more likely to endure accidents or injuries | 81 | 63.6 |
| Most probably they will not be able to adhere to the office’s working hours | 9.5 | 9.1 |
| Customers or clients would feel uncomfortable for their presence | 23.8 | 0 |
| The employees would feel uncomfortable for their presence | 4.8 | 0.0 |
| We lack knowledge on how to communicate with them | 4.8 | 9.1 |