IT CAN HELP TO BE OPEN OVER HEALTH
JOBSEEKERS with a health issue or disability may face barriers in the hiring process if employers mistakenly think it will prevent them performing in a role.
While it is up to employers not to illegally discriminate, jobseekers can also help themselves by highlighting strengths and dispelling myths.
Amcal research reveals a third of people with diabetes, for example, have felt discriminated against at work, including 7 per cent who believe they have been passed over for a promotion.
One in 10 employers say they would not hire someone with diabetes or give them a large workload, believing they could not handle the same responsibility as other staff.
Jobseekers can address this stereotype during the hiring process by highlighting how they have successfully handled workloads in the past.
Equal Opportunity Commissioner Dr Niki Vincent deals with discrimination complaints based on factors from race and age to pregnancy status, but says the most common complaints are around disability.
She says some employers worry about the cost of workplace adjustments to accommodate needs, but often this is supported by government programs.
UQ Business School Professor Charmine Hartel says people on the autism spectrum can also suffer from unconscious bias during interviews.
Affected jobseekers should highlight for employers the benefits they bring, such as improved productivity, innovation, retention rates, culture, and employee engagement.
UQ’s Neurodiversity Hub and DXC Technology have partnered to offer the Dandelion Work Experience Program to support students with autism spectrum disorders.
Dr Dino Willox, director of the university’s Student Employability Centre, says the paid work experience program not only boosts students’ confidence but connects them with employers and improves their employment potential after graduation.
“The traditional recruitment process can be challenging for neurodiverse people, however through work experience these students will be able to develop and demonstrate their professional workplace skills,” Willox says.