California workers who are disabled may be interested to learn that in 2015 there were approximately 27,000 disability discrimination charges filed with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. Further, those who were disabled were well under-represented in the workforce with just 17.5 percent of employees having some sort of disability.
There are several reasons why this may be the case. When it comes to disability discrimination filings, those who are disabled may now be less hesitant to submit claims. Further, support groups are making more efforts to reach out when it comes to the rights of the employees. As to why the percentage of disabled workers remains low, there are some jobs where reasonable accommodations cannot be made. However, the number of complaints also indicates that some companies just may not be open to providing them.
Regardless of why companies discriminate against those with disabilities, employers and their HR departments should always be concerned about potential discrimination lawsuits. Not only are these lawsuits costly, but it can also be strategically valuable. By establishing fair hiring practices, employers can ensure that they are hiring the best people for the job, regardless of whether or not they have a disability.
Workplace discrimination can cause employees to feel like they cannot be productive. In some cases, the discrimination against those who are disabled may even cause them to lose their jobs or miss out on well-earned promotions. An employment law attorney may assist with seeking compensation for people who were illegally fired or were missed over for promotions. If it can be proven that the company refused to hire or ultimately fired a person due to a disability, the attorney may help to seek compensatory damages.