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Employers not doing enough for workers with disabilities

posted on November 12, 2021

2 in 5 Canadians say employers doing bad or terrible job in recruiting from this group

When it comes to equity, diversity, and inclusion (EDI) policies in the workplace, four in five (78 per cent) Canadians say disability should be included, according to a report from Angus Reid.

And 40 per cent say that employers are either bad or terrible when it comes to hiring from this group.

Nearly half (48 per cent) of those with severe disabilities say that companies are bad at hiring people with disabilities, while 46 per cent say the same about the supports offered by corporate Canada to disabled employees.

And 39 per cent of those living with disabilities say that Canadian companies have a way to go when it comes to supporting their employees who have a disability, according to the online survey from Aug, 16 to 20, 2021 among 2,085 Canadian adults, including a national general population survey sample of 1,610 as well as an augment of Canadians living with disabilities.

Differences

Disabled women are more likely to say companies are doing a poor job of hiring those with disabilities (45 per cent) than their male counterparts (35 per cent).

Among those with the most severe disabilities, many ranked Canadian employers as either bad (33 per cent) or terrible (13 per cent) when it comes to providing workplace supports. In contrast, 46 per cent of those with the least severe disabilities say that companies did a good job in this regard.

Over three in five (62 per cent) of all Canadians say they would be more likely to give their business to a company or organization if they knew there were specific policies in place to support those living with disabilities.

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