New report shows troubling experiences of workers with disability

Third Sector August 8, 2024

2 min read

People with disability are facing alarming levels of exclusion at work, causing many to avoid sharing their disability status with their employer, according to a report released today by Diversity Council Australia (DCA) in collaboration with the Australian Disability Network.

The Disability Data at Work report highlights the critical role of capturing disability data in cultivating inclusive workplaces where all employees can thrive.

The report sheds light on the workplace experiences of people with disability and outlines essential strategies for fostering workplace environments where employees feel safe to disclose their disability without fear of repercussions.

Key findings from the report:

Drawing on previously unreleased insights from DCA’s 2023-2024 Inclusion@Work Index survey, the Disability Data at Work report found employees with disability are:

twice as likely to experience discrimination and harassment – close to half (42%) of people with disability said they had experienced discrimination and/or harassment at work, nearly double the rate of people without disability (23%).

facing disproportionate exclusion at work – 16% of people with a disability said they work in non-inclusive teams, compared to 10% of employees without disability.

significantly more likely to feel socially excluded – a third (35%) of people with disability reported being left out of social gatherings at work as well as being ignored or treated as though they don’t exist.

Challenges in disability data collection

On top of these troubling findings, 40% of people with disability said their organisations were not collecting disability status data. For those whose organisations that were collecting disability data, close to a third (30%) chose not to share their disability status with their employer. When asked why they chose not to share their disability status:

a third (35%) said they did not share out of fear they would be seen less favourably by managers or overlooked for promotions or development opportunities

over a third (39%) said they were concerned about privacy and how the information would be used

close to a third (33%) said they didn’t trust sharing would result in a positive outcome.

Collecting disability data is crucial to workplace inclusion

Collecting disability data enables organisations to understand the mix of people in their workplace and the inclusion and exclusion experiences of employees with disability. This helps organisations make informed decisions about accessibility, monitor progress, and drive positive change. Using insights from DCA research and a review of Australian and international research, Disability Data at Work provides practical, evidence-based solutions to enable organisations to capture disability data safely and respectfully.

“The Disability Data at Work report underscores the urgent need for organisations to adopt inclusive practices that respect and empower all employees,” said DCA CEO Lisa Annese.

“Behind the troubling experiences faced by employees with disability are deeply rooted personal and systematic biases.”

According to Annese, organisations bear a significant responsibility in dismantling these barriers to foster equitable employment opportunities, outcomes, and experiences for people with disability.

“The recent findings from the Royal Commission into Violence, Abuse, Neglect and Exploitation of People with Disability highlight the need for comprehensive data on employment experiences to address these complex and pervasive challenges,” said Annese.

“By enhancing our understanding of disability data collection and implementing leading practices outlined in the report, organisations can foster environments where every employee feels valued, respected, and fully supported.”

Australian Disability Network Chief Executive Corene Strauss said the collection of disability data allows organisations to track their progress in addressing the disability employment gap.

“The safe and respectful collection of disability data is essential to increase the workforce participation rate of people with disability. We can’t fix what we don’t understand.”

“This in-depth report provides invaluable insights that will help employers create a more diverse, inclusive, and productive workplace.”

Third Sector

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