The Decision to Disclose a Hidden Disability at Work |
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Job seekers hide disability fearing discrimination.
Prospective employees are more likely to disclose disability at the interview stage.
Disabilities may be discounted in people who look young and healthy.
People living with invisible disabilities may desire to keep them hidden, to avoid being treated differently. The desire to keep quiet may stem from social desirability bias, wanting to make a good impression by avoiding revelations that could spark stereotypes or stigma. At the same time, everyone wants to be comfortable, at work, school, or socially, and failure to reveal a hidden disability deprives people of the opportunity to receive necessary accommodations. From quiet space to frequent breaks, comfortable surroundings and flexibility can accommodate a wide variety of invisible disabilities, when people are willing to disclose. Unfortunately, workplace studies show that many are not.
Workplace Reluctance to Disclose Disability
In 2023, Forbes ran an article referencing a study conducted by Evenbreak, which surveyed over 3,000 disabled people with the market research company, YouGov, investigating the willingness to disclose disability when seeking a new job.[i] Results revealed a significant number of........