Journal Article Details

Citation:
Østerud, K.L. (2022). A balancing act: The employer perspective on disability disclosure in hiring. Journal of Vocational Rehabilitation, 56 (3), 289-302.
Title:
A balancing act: The employer perspective on disability disclosure in hiring
Authors:
Østerud, K.L.
Year:
2022
Journal/Publication: 
Journal of Vocational Rehabilitation
Publisher:
IOS Press
DOI:
Full text:
Peer-reviewed?
Yes
NIDILRR-funded? 
Yes

Structured abstract:

Background:
How to disclose an impairment during the hiring process is an important question for disabled people, yet the associated employer perspective remains overlooked in the literature.
Purpose:
The article investigates whether, when and how employers prefer jobseekers to disclose their impairment during the recruitment process. Stigma and impression management is used as a theoretical lens to interpret employer responses.
Data collection & analysis:
The article uses interview data from 38 Norwegian employers paired with behavioral data from a recruitment situation. Prior to the interviews, the employers were subjected to a field experiment wherein pairs of fictitious applications were submitted for real job listings. In these, one of the applicants disclosed either a mobility impairment or a mental health condition.
Findings:
The findings show that disability disclosure is a balancing act between appearing candid and demonstrating competence and that employers favor identity management strategies that present disability in a positive and unobtrusive manner and downplay the impairment. The employers favored disclosure but expected wheelchair users to disclose their impairment earlier than people with mental health conditions. Furthermore, employers with a relational view on disability were found to be more open to hiring disabled people.
Conclusions:
The article illustrates how disclosure expectations can represent a significant disability penalty, thus hampering employment advancement for disabled people.
Disabilities served:
Multiple disabilities
Interventions:
Accommodations
Co-worker supports
Natural supports
Accommodations / modifications
Assessment
Self-determination / self-advocacy
Employment opportunities expansion
Needs and resource assessment
Outreach and orientation
Outcomes:
Employment acquisition
Full-time employment
Part-time employment
Employer-sponsored benefits