Many people with disabilities face barriers at work. These barriers can be difficult to overcome for employees who have physical or cognitive disabilities. Businesses often must make accommodations for employees with disabilities. However, not all businesses are accommodating toward employees with disabilities.
Disability discrimination is not always obvious. Employees may face subtle signs of disability discrimination. Here are some subtle signs of discrimination in workplaces:
1. Unequal treatment during meetings
Employees with disabilities may face discrimination during meetings. These individuals may not be acknowledged during discussions. They may also be overlooked when managing projects. In some cases, a disabled employee may be excluded from meetings altogether.
2. Accommodation failures and delays
When an employee requests accommodations for their disabilities, their request may be dismissed. This can lead to delayed accommodations that make it harder for employees to fulfill their job. If accommodations are provided, they may not meet an employee’s needs, further impacting their work performance and well-being.
3. Negative performance reviews
An employee with disabilities may be given a negative performance review. However, there may be no reasonable justification for the poor scores. Or, an employee may be scored poorly based on the limitations of their disabilities.
4. Medical leave questions
Many people with disabilities require frequent medical care, which can impact how often they are at work. An employer may ask invasive questions about an employee’s medical leave. This may suggest that an employer does not view their employee’s condition as serious or real.
Employees with disabilities can seek professional legal guidance to help them handle workplace discrimination.