A mixed methods study of employers’ and employees’ evaluations of job seekers with a mental illness, disability, or of a cultural minority

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Groups in society that are under-represented in the workforce encounter various barriers in the job-seeking process. Some of these barriers are found on the employer’s side of the table. OBJECTIVE: This study investigates supervisors’ and employees’ assessments of job seekers with different forms of disabilities, health issues, or with a minority background. It also investigates respondents’ previous experience with such colleagues, and whether supervisor status affects their assessments. METHODS: A survey was distributed among supervisors (n = 305) and employees (n = 925) using a vignette design with ten characters, inquiring about willingness to include such an employee in their work group. The vignettes described job se.ekers with either a mental illness, a physical disability or a cultural minority. Risk ratio (RR) was calculated for being assessed positively, using a vignette character describing a single. mother as reference. RESULTS: Vignette characters describing mental health issues and physical disabilities were less likely to be assessed positively than the reference case, except for the vignette describing audio impairment. Cultural minorities were assessed positively, or more positively than the reference case. Supervisors and employees generally agreed in their assessments of vignette characters, and previous experience was consistently associated with a more positive assessment of the character in question. Various barriers to include the least favoured vignette characters were identified. CONCLUSIONS: Although some findings are promising with regard to increasing work participation for underrepresented groups, barriers pertaining to some of the vignette characters should be addressed in vocational rehabilitation efforts, as well as in organizations seeking to enhance equal opportunities and diversity.

Mental illness among young adults in primary care and community context

“…There is a stigma around mental illness, which is often considered to be due to a lack of knowledge about mental illness. This constitutes a basis for poorer treatment [1]. This, in turn, constitutes a basis for poorer treatment [1,2].…”

“…This constitutes a basis for poorer treatment [1]. This, in turn, constitutes a basis for poorer treatment [1,2]. Adolescents and young adults hold stigmatizing beliefs about mental health treatments, health professionals, and access to care.…”

Understanding work inclusion: Analysis of the perspectives of people with intellectual disabilities on employment in the Icelandic labor market

“…Besides a large body of research concerned with identifying barriers in the labor market, for example disability-related prejudice in society [ 5 ] and bias in employers’ hiring decisions [ 6 ], scholars have emphasized work inclusion as a conceptual point of departure for understanding processes that lead to marginalization as well as opportunities for participation [ 7 ]. The concept of work inclusion has been developed in relation to the more general concept of social inclusion and considers individuals’ opportunities to participate in society on a basis of respect for difference.…”

Unequal? Investigating Employers’ Recruitment Practice Towards Wheelchair Users

“…They found that blind people and people with mental disabilities experience most barriers in recruitment. Fyhn et al (2021) include various disadvantaged groups in their FSE and examine the likelihood of Norwegian supervisors and employers hiring different applicants. The results show that the likelihood of hiring an applicant with a physical or mental disability is significantly lower compared to applicants without any disabilities.…”