Sixty per cent of employed Canadians with disabilities are actively looking for new jobs because they feel underemployed and have experienced acts of ableism in their current workplaces, according to a new survey by KPMG in Canada.
The survey of 1,000 Canadians with disabilities found that the same percentage — 60 per cent — feel they are not making full use of their skills in their current roles. Instances of ableism, which refers to attitudes and actions that devalue and limit the potential and inclusion of persons with disabilities, were reported by 44 per cent of respondents. Additionally, 43 per cent said they had witnessed acts of ableism against colleagues in the past year.
“Our poll findings reveal that ableism is a systemic issue in Canadian workplaces,” said Rob Davis, chief inclusion, diversity and equity officer at KPMG in Canada. “It also uncovers that persons with disabilities feel their employers are not fully utilizing their talents, representing a loss of skills, creativity and productivity to businesses in Canada. This should be a wake-up call for organizations to take a much closer look at their workplace culture, as well as at policies and practices to build a respectful and inclusive work environment for people with apparent and non-apparent disabilities. Otherwise, they risk losing top talent.”
The survey highlighted that persons with apparent disabilities reported higher rates of experiencing ableism (58 per cent) compared to those with non-apparent disabilities (39 per cent). Furthermore, 68 per cent of respondents said they have to work harder than their colleagues without disabilities to be valued and recognized in the same way.
Workplace challenges
Lisa Park, a director at KPMG in Canada and founder of the firm’s Disability Inclusion Network, noted the significant challenges faced by individuals with disabilities in the workplace.
“The contributions of Canadians with disabilities to the corporate landscape are invaluable and multifaceted,” she said. “These individuals bring unique perspectives, innovative ideas and a wealth of experience that can significantly enhance organizational performance and drive inclusive growth. However, despite their potential, many Canadians with disabilities face systemic barriers that hinder their ability to fully engage and thrive in the workplace.”
Park emphasized that individuals with apparent disabilities are particularly affected. “With as many as 58 per cent of respondents with apparent disabilities encountering discrimination in the past year, this poll finding underscores the importance of creating inclusive work environments that provide necessary supports to enable all employees, especially those with disabilities, to thrive and perform at their best,” she said.
One-third say workplace is a safe environment
Only 32 per cent of respondents strongly agreed that their workplace is a safe environment for them to disclose their disability to others. Among those with apparent disabilities, 43 per cent felt safe disclosing, compared to 29 per cent of those with non-apparent disabilities.
When asked about actions their employers should take, respondents highlighted the need for fostering an open and inclusive work environment built on trust and care (58 per cent), providing tools and processes for productivity (46 per cent) and changing recruitment processes to remove barriers (45 per cent). Nearly 80 per cent said more representation of persons with disabilities in leadership positions is needed.
“Clearly, Canadians with disabilities need to be better supported in their workplaces,” said Davis. “While it’s encouraging to see that 64 per cent of survey respondents feel they have allies at work, we need to continue that momentum through more education and awareness on discrimination and ableism. It’s also important to equip managers with inclusive leadership skills and regularly review business and talent processes to ensure we remove bias and barriers for people with disabilities. As business leaders, it’s our responsibility to create workplaces that allow everyone, including persons with disabilities, to be productive, succeed and thrive.”
The survey was conducted from Nov. 5 to Nov. 18, 2024, using Sago’s AskingCanadians panel, with a margin of error of plus or minus three percentage points at a 95 per cent confidence level.
