Legal obligation or personal lottery? Employee experiences of disability and the negociation of adjustments in the public sector workplace
2007
21
1
March
67-84
disabled worker ; discrimination against the disabled ; physical mobility ; public sector ; workplace
Medicine - Toxicology - Health
English
Bibliogr.
'This article ‘gives voice' to disabled employees by documenting their experiences of negotiating workplace adjustments under the terms of the UK's Disability Discrimination Act, 1995.This ad hoc process of ‘negotiation' is explored through in-depth interviews that reveal persistent problems with the character of legislation and its implementation in public sector organizations. Negotiations on adjustments were characteristically highly individualized and outcomes almost entirely contingent upon the knowledge, attitudes and goodwill of poorly trained line managers. The adjustment process itself often led to instances of bullying by managers, resulting in stress and ill health among employees.An analysis of managers' behaviour in the context of wider debates on power and organizational decision-making concludes that, even where outcomes are positive for employees, managers still choose to abdicate responsibility in this area. Such behaviour represents a form of non-decision-making that is essentially political in character and has wider implications for equality agendas.'
Paper
The ETUI is co-funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the ETUI.