Indiana is home to over 800,000 disabled citizens. While this number includes many retired individuals, it also includes people who are of working age. Disabled workers can bring significant value and talent to many companies. Employers should not be dissuaded from hiring them based on persistent myths. Excluding disabled workers from your hiring pool is also illegal.
The Americans with Disabilities Act
Federal employment law makes it illegal to discriminate against disabled workers when looking to fill positions. This has been the case since 1990 when the Americans with Disabilities Act was passed by Congress and signed into law by President George H. W. Bush.
Employers must consider all employees based on criteria such as work experience, education and skills. The law also mandates that employers provide reasonable accommodations in the workplace for disabled employees and make public places such as businesses accessible to those with disabilities.
Myths regarding disabled workers
Despite this legal mandate that prohibits discrimination against disabled workers, some employers may still be skeptical of the prospect of hiring those who have a disability. Certain myths continue to prevail about hiring disabled workers. These myths include:
- Providing reasonable accommodations is prohibitively expensive.
- Disabled employees are not productive and are often absent.
- The cost of workers’ compensation insurance will increase if you hire disabled workers.
- Disabled employees do not have a strong work ethic.
All of these are false. Most workers with disabilities have the same capabilities as employees without disabilities. They live normal lives and have made adjustments to do the same kind of work as anyone else. The cost of providing reasonable accommodations is also low, and all public buildings built after 1990 should already be accessible.
Overall, no business should discount the possibility of hiring disabled employees. The myths regarding them are just that–myths. Beyond that, not fairly considering a disabled person’s application or resume is a violation of federal law in every state including Indiana.