'This is a major challenge and missed opportunity for employers'
Three in five Australians have admitted that they're not aware of workplace adjustments, prompting calls to employers to address the knowledge gaps.
Workplace adjustments are administrative, environmental, or procedural changes that allow people with disabilities to have equitable employment opportunity and work effectively and comfortably, according to JobAccess.
But in its latest national survey among over 1,000 Australians, JobAccess found that 60% of respondents haven't heard of workplace adjustments.
In fact, 59% of people with disabilities said they are not aware of workplace adjustments.
"This is a major challenge and missed opportunity for employers, seeing Australia's disability employment gap has not changed in two decades and ongoing skills shortage that the businesses are facing," said JobAccess General Manager Daniel Valiente-Riedl in a statement.
Cost of work adjustments
Among the misconceptions surrounding workplace adjustments is cost - with 40% believing that it would be significant, according to the report.
Respondents aged 18 years and above believe the average cost of workplace adjustments could reach $6,800, while employed respondents think it would cost $8,040.
But Valiente-Riedl said making workplace adjustments is easy and comes at no cost.
"JobAccess internal research shows that most adjustments cost less than $1,000," the general manager said. "Some changes, such as flexible working hours or arrangements, cost nothing and benefit all employees, not just people with disability."
Benefits of workplace adjustments
Despite the lack of awareness on work adjustments, nearly 40% of the respondents said they had already benefitted from it through flexible work.
"People have also benefitted from extra training and mentoring at work, having access to assistive technology (software or equipment), as well as support or counselling in the workplace," the report said.
One in three also said it increased job sustainability, according to the report. Other benefits from workplace adjustments include:
- Helped in maintaining their job (55%)
- Led to an increase in productivity (44%)
- Helped increase job satisfaction (39%)
Who should be responsible for it?
Meanwhile, more than 60% of respondents said employers are responsible for implementing work adjustments, while another 76% said it is an important part of a manager's job.
But only three in 10 respondents said they have an idea how to arrange workplace adjustments, while 72% are unsure or don't know how to arrange workplace adjustments for an employee with disability.
"This is often due to low awareness about workplace adjustments, lack of confidence, and an incorrect perception that it may be difficult," Valiente-Riedl said.
But the good news is JobAccess is present to help address the ongoing knowledge gap over workplace adjustments, according to the general manager.
"It's time that Australian businesses focus on creating safe and inclusive workplaces for employees with disability, where everyone is welcome to work," he said.
According to JobAccess, it has managed over 65,000 funding applications to make workplace modifications, provide support, and training employers and people with disability.
