Abstract
This selective review provides an overview of salient research findings related to employers' attitudes towards disability and prospective influences on employers to improve employment outcomes of people with disabilities. Research studies included for review are mainly those which investigated employer attitudes towards disability as predispositions to hiring people with disability. Selected studies were classified into three categories including hiring and accommodating employees with disabilities, work performance, and affective reactions and behavioural intentions of employers. Excluded from the review were studies that investigated other factors influencing employer attitudes toward disability. Altogether 34 research studies from the period of 1987 until 2012 were included in the review. Primary databases for the review included ProQuest, Ebscohost, Lexus Nexus, ERICK Database and the Sage Sociology Collection. This review of the demand-side employment literature suggests employers hold relatively positive attitudes regarding individuals with disabilities. However, employer affective reactions and behavioural intentions of employers towards disability in the work setting were less positive and negatively impact hiring decisions, provision of accommodations and work performance appraisals. Employer attitudes represent an important demand-side factor impacting full participation in competitive employment for individuals with disabilities. While employers report generally positive attitudes toward disability, hiring practices may still be discriminatory. Use by rehabilitation professionals of demand-side strategies with employers would likely result in higher rates of work participation by people with disabilities.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 21-38 |
| Number of pages | 18 |
| Journal | Australian Journal of Rehabilitation Counselling |
| Volume | 19 |
| Issue number | 1 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - 2013 May 28 |
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All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes
- Physical Therapy, Sports Therapy and Rehabilitation
- Rehabilitation
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Employers' Attitudes Towards Hiring and Retaining People with Disabilities : A Review of the Literature. / Burke, Jana; Bezyak, Jill; Fraser, Robert T.; Pete, Joseph; Ditchman, Nicole; Chan, Fong.
In: Australian Journal of Rehabilitation Counselling, Vol. 19, No. 1, 28.05.2013, p. 21-38.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article
TY - JOUR
T1 - Employers' Attitudes Towards Hiring and Retaining People with Disabilities
T2 - A Review of the Literature
AU - Burke, Jana
AU - Bezyak, Jill
AU - Fraser, Robert T.
AU - Pete, Joseph
AU - Ditchman, Nicole
AU - Chan, Fong
PY - 2013/5/28
Y1 - 2013/5/28
N2 - This selective review provides an overview of salient research findings related to employers' attitudes towards disability and prospective influences on employers to improve employment outcomes of people with disabilities. Research studies included for review are mainly those which investigated employer attitudes towards disability as predispositions to hiring people with disability. Selected studies were classified into three categories including hiring and accommodating employees with disabilities, work performance, and affective reactions and behavioural intentions of employers. Excluded from the review were studies that investigated other factors influencing employer attitudes toward disability. Altogether 34 research studies from the period of 1987 until 2012 were included in the review. Primary databases for the review included ProQuest, Ebscohost, Lexus Nexus, ERICK Database and the Sage Sociology Collection. This review of the demand-side employment literature suggests employers hold relatively positive attitudes regarding individuals with disabilities. However, employer affective reactions and behavioural intentions of employers towards disability in the work setting were less positive and negatively impact hiring decisions, provision of accommodations and work performance appraisals. Employer attitudes represent an important demand-side factor impacting full participation in competitive employment for individuals with disabilities. While employers report generally positive attitudes toward disability, hiring practices may still be discriminatory. Use by rehabilitation professionals of demand-side strategies with employers would likely result in higher rates of work participation by people with disabilities.
AB - This selective review provides an overview of salient research findings related to employers' attitudes towards disability and prospective influences on employers to improve employment outcomes of people with disabilities. Research studies included for review are mainly those which investigated employer attitudes towards disability as predispositions to hiring people with disability. Selected studies were classified into three categories including hiring and accommodating employees with disabilities, work performance, and affective reactions and behavioural intentions of employers. Excluded from the review were studies that investigated other factors influencing employer attitudes toward disability. Altogether 34 research studies from the period of 1987 until 2012 were included in the review. Primary databases for the review included ProQuest, Ebscohost, Lexus Nexus, ERICK Database and the Sage Sociology Collection. This review of the demand-side employment literature suggests employers hold relatively positive attitudes regarding individuals with disabilities. However, employer affective reactions and behavioural intentions of employers towards disability in the work setting were less positive and negatively impact hiring decisions, provision of accommodations and work performance appraisals. Employer attitudes represent an important demand-side factor impacting full participation in competitive employment for individuals with disabilities. While employers report generally positive attitudes toward disability, hiring practices may still be discriminatory. Use by rehabilitation professionals of demand-side strategies with employers would likely result in higher rates of work participation by people with disabilities.
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85011526524&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=85011526524&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1017/jrc.2013.2
DO - 10.1017/jrc.2013.2
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:85011526524
VL - 19
SP - 21
EP - 38
JO - Australian Journal of Rehabilitation Counselling
JF - Australian Journal of Rehabilitation Counselling
SN - 1323-8922
IS - 1
ER -