Would YOU employ a disabled person?!

[BakeOffBetty]

Namechanged for this but I swear I have been here for far too long a while.

I have been trying to find a new job for almost one year now. I apply for endless jobs, I get telephone interviews, I get invited for a face to face interview, a second interview with the manager, or with a panel, I prepare presentations, spend hours on this shit ... and then I don't get the job.

Today I received THREE rejections following interviews. One in particular I am devastated about because the interview went really well, the manager added me on LinkedIn and then ignored my emails for 3 weeks!

I have lost count of how many interviews I have had. I have recently started to have nasty, intrusive thoughts, that perhaps my disability is putting companies off and that is why I do really well on phone interviews but after coming in I get useless feedback that tells me nothing.

Or maybe it's my shitty, bitter personality?

It is so demoralising.

[IceMaiden73]

I think it depends on what sort of jobs you are applying for and how, if at all, the disability would affect the job

If someone applied for a job with me that was disabled and was the best candidate for the role then yes I would employ them

[elderberryflower]

Depends on the job and the disability. Some jobs will be difficult with certain disabilities regardless of reasonable adjustments.

[BakeOffBetty]

Sigh.

I know this. I'm not applying for the equivalent of a firefighter whilst being in a wheelchair.

I am applying for jobs I know I can do which are the same as or similar to my current or previous roles.

[AgentProvocateur]

I would employ someone in a wheelchair or someone who was blind or Deaf, for example. To be brutally honest, I would rather not employ someone who was disabled by a long term fluctuating condition that meant they would need to take a lot of time off sick.

[StealthPolarBear]

Op I thibk the job market is fairly shit at the moment. I'm sorry you'be not been successful :(

[Tiggeryoubastard]

Dp has his own company. He does employ someone with a certain disability (employed them as they were the best person for the job) it as Agent said upthread, if they'd needed extra time off because of it then no, he wouldn't have employed them, they wouldn't have been the best person for the job. He needs someone that will be there, unforeseen incidents excluded, obviously.

[SparklyShinyThings]

I think most employers would be wary if it meant a lot of time off etc as reliablility is very important.

If your sickness record is good and they don't need to make adaptations then maybe the rejections are based on something else. What has been the feedback?

[Catrabbit31]

I do. Well, not directly as I'm not the employer, but I appointed someone with a disability to my dept, as she was the best candidate for the job.

As others have said, provided the job can be done, once reasonable adjustments are in place, there is no reason not to emplo someone with a disability. The issue of time off would be a factor though, because in my dept, being physically at work at set hours is crucial to the job. Someone taking regular or excessive time off would just not be viable.

For someone with a disability which might mean unpredictable time off, then I would think the most suitable employment would be jobs where the timing isn't critical, and as long as the job gets done within a certain time frame, there is some flexibility.
Or- I hesitate to say it- but the dreaded zero hours contract jobs. I know they get a bad press, but it could work to your advantage if you have a disability which means unpredictable time off.

IME of making appointments it's a tough climate though- I regulatory have at least a dozen candidates who would probably be fine at the job I advertise. Getting back into work after taking any time out is particularly tricky.

[Catrabbit31]

Regularly

[WeAllHaveWings]

I have worked with some exceptional colleagues with disabilities. An engineer who was blind, a IT specialist with physical disabilities due to polio, a customer account manager with a severe speech impediment, and currently a IT process specialist with bipolar and other MH issues.

I have also worked with some arses who has disabilities.

I would hope I would see beyond the disability and see the person and if they would be an asset to our company. Attitude and aptitude is much more important.

Good luck with to job hunt, I had multiple knock backs after second interviews a couple of years back after redundancy, it does knock your confidence.

[Crisscrosscranky]

Yes I would so long as they were able to do the job with REASONABLE adjustments.

In my office I'd worry someone with MH worries might not have the emotional resilience to be OK in that sort of role and I couldn't protect them from that. However a physical disability/slight learning difficulty I would be happy to support someone.

It's about knowing your own limitations - there's a job out there for everyone.

[RowenaDahl]

What is your disability exactly?

Could you do a bit research and see if there is an area/type of job where you wouldn't be discriminated against? (e.g. a mental health charity or somewhere they would understand your condition.)

Sorry you are going through this. I think things are a bit tough in certain sectors at the mo.

[TinklyLittleLaugh]

Well we live in an imperfect society so yeah, I imagine your disability will be putting some prospective employers off.

However, if you are getting through to the second interview stage it suggests that you are only just missing out with some jobs. Hang on in there, it may take you a bit longer than it would in a perfect world but it will happen.

[Notsurewhyimhere]

I am a wheelchair user myself and found employment through a charity that helps disabled people find employment. It may be worth seeing If your local area has anything like this. If it wasn't for them I'd still be looking for work now.

Also bear in mind there are grants companies can get to make things accessible for you at work (which comes as no cost to the company) hope that's helpful and good luck.

[lljkk]

What industry are you working in, Betty?

[DiegeticMuch]

Wheelchair/zimmer/stick would be no issue at all.

Conditions that might mean significant time off would cause problems in my firm because we have several peak periods per annum, where it's all-hands-on-deck.

My old boss wouldn't employ an obese person again, ever since the assistant he hired (about 24 stone, he needed a different desk chair) was off work regularly with unspecific health issues, and sadly had a mini stroke just before a meeting.

There is discrimination of all kinds out there.

Good luck OP.