A new survey finds some employers are discouraged from hiring people with
disabilities due to perceived concerns linked to their ability to do the work.
More than 100 human resource
executives from a cross-section of Ontario-based firms took part in the study
commissioned by the Job Opportunity Information Network.
Among respondents, 36 per cent say
they were discouraged from hiring a person with a disability out of concern that
it would be harder to dismiss an underperforming person with a disability than
someone without one.
And 24 per cent say concerns over
higher absentee rates discouraged them from hiring a person with a disability.
Perceived expense tied to hiring an
employee with a disability and increased effort to train employees were also
cited as concerns.
However, employers surveyed also
believed hiring an individual with a disability could add both value and a fresh
perspective to the workplace.
Fifty-three per cent of respondents
say the idea that employees with a disability will try harder would motivate
them to hire.
The same percentage say they would be
motivated to hire people with disabilities because they bring a fresh
perspective.