New Jersey workers may be interested in learning that a disproportionate percentage of workplace discrimination claims are filed by the disabled population. According to a recent report put out by the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), more than 30 percent of workplace discrimination claims in 2016 involved charges of disability-based discrimination.
About 20 percent of people in the U.S. has a disability, but only 17.5 percent of them are employed. There are many different factors that contribute to the low employment rate among the disabled, including workplace discrimination. Some disabled people do not work simply because they are unable or don’t want to, and others choose not to work so that they can remain eligible for benefits.
Disabled people tend to have more difficulty finding jobs, and when they do find work, it is often in low-wage positions that don’t offer any kind of security or benefits. While working temporary and part-time jobs, disabled people are often subjected to discrimination and harassment. A lot of disabled job seekers credit their disabilities for their difficulties securing interviews. Some employers discriminate against disabled workers because they believe that these individuals are not capable of performing the job tasks or as smart as smart as their non-disabled counterparts.
If someone was turned down for a job due to his or her disability, it may be considered as unlawful workplace discrimination. An attorney may be able to help a disabled job seeker determine whether an employer violated his or her employment rights during an interview. If a disabled individual seeking employment was unlawfully discriminated against, he or she may be able to sue a potential employer for financial compensation.
