Disabled people and those with long-term health conditions are facing higher levels of negative treatment in the workplace according to new research published by the Equality and Human Rights Commission. The British Workplace Behaviour Survey 2008 of nearly 4000 workers, reports these experiences which range from low expectations of workers, bullying and humiliation to, in some cases, physical violence.

The survey found that 22.5 per cent of people with a disability or long-term illness said they had been the subject to persistent, unfair criticism of their work compared to 13.4 per cent of people without a disability or long-term illness; 13.4 per cent of people with a disability or long-term illness said they had been humiliated or ridiculed in connection with their work compared to 8.7 per cent for people without a disability or long-term illness and11.6 per cent of people with a disability or long-term illness said they had experienced actual physical violence at work compared to 5.5 per cent of people without a disability or long-term illness.

It is important that, as the Government moves to introduce welfare reforms designed to enable more disabled people to enter work, the issues raised in this report are addressed. Ahead of the upcoming Equality Bill, the Commission will ask whether existing equality laws provide clear enough protection to disabled individuals at risk of bullying and harassment at work.

Nicola Brewer, Chief Executive of the Equality and Human Rights Commission, said:
‘Disabled people and those with long term ill-health should be supported to get into, or back into, work, but they’ll only stay in work if they are treated with dignity and respect.’

To see a full copy of the report visit the report page on the Commission website.

Insight: Work fit for all – disability, health and the experience of negative treatment in the British workplace