Disclosure of Disability in the Workplace
November 9, 2018 Greg Thomson
Disclosure of disability in the workplace is the process in which workers reveal their disabilities to employers. Disclosure of disability can be daunting for workers and the people they disclose to.
In this article, we explore:
- Why workers might choose or not choose to disclose
- How they might do so
- What employers’ responsibilities are after disclosure of disability
- How employers can create a work environment encouraging disclosure of disability
Disclosure of Disability in the Workplace
When Disclosure can Happen and How to Respond
Candidates may disclose to a hiring committee before an interview, to an interviewer, or when they have been hired. Existing employees may disclose to human resources personnel, union representatives, or supervisors, depending on workplace size and structure. Workers may also disclose to trusted co-workers.
People a worker discloses to cannot ask for a medical diagnosis. Instead, they should ask what tasks a worker will do differently and what accommodations can help the worker accomplish those tasks. Employers are required to provide accommodations unless the expense will create undue hardship for the business. Co-workers must keep information about workers’ accommodation needs confidential. Their needs should be disclosed on a need-to-know basis, such as when coworkers volunteer to be [...]