The Times Australia
The Times World News

.
Men's Weekly

.

Working from home has worked for people with disability. The back-to-the-office push could wind back gains

  • Written by Sue Williamson, Associate Professor, Human Resource Management, UNSW Canberra, UNSW Sydney
Working from home has worked for people with disability. The back-to-the-office push could wind back gains

A push is underway to get employees back into the office. The Commonwealth Bank kick-started this conversation recently, with reports the organisation is requiring staff to work at least half the week on-site[1].

A range of organisations are directing employees to return to the office. These reportedly[2] include Amazon, General Motors, Meta and Disney.

But although COVID lockdowns have ended, many employees want to continue to work from home. Earlier research (by the lead author of this article) shows[3] working from home has particular benefits for employees with disability[4].

So there may be more at stake for workers with disability when it comes to corporate mandates about where they do their job.

Read more: Part-time work is valuable to people with disability – but full time is more likely to attract government support[5]

A much shorter commute

We began our research at the height of the pandemic lockdowns in 2020 (with the assistance of the Community and Public Sector Union). We repeated our survey[6] of almost 5,000 public servants (just over a quarter who identified as living with disability) in 2021. We found disabled employees valued working from home highly.

Almost half (47%) of employees with disability would like to work from home two or three days a week. Over 40% want to work from home for four or five days a week.

Our findings tally with other research, including a small survey[7] in the United Kingdom that found more than two-thirds of disabled employees want to work from home four or five days a week.

Why do disabled employees prefer to work from home? As with other employees, not commuting is a significant benefit[8]. This is particularly beneficial for employees who have mobility impairments.

But commuting isn’t the only issue

Working at home also enables better management of health conditions. Our disabled survey respondents experienced reduced negative sensory issues and increased capacity for focus. One respondent told us:

Due to disability, less distractions and calmer environment, [I am] able to manage my conditions better and perform better.

Another person said it means greater working capacity:

I am disabled, and [working from home] reduces fatigue and pain. I have few sensory issues working from home.

Working from home also reduces the time taken to manage disability or chronic health conditions. One respondent mentioned “less time spent trying to use facilities due to mobility issues”. Another asserted she was “no longer wasting time adjusting my environment to suit me”.

Respondents also said their mental health improved thanks to reduced stress, less anxiety and feeling happier at work. Almost two-thirds of disabled employees in our research believed they were more productive when working from home than at an office or external workplace.

Productivity gains are being realised by managers and organisations. We found disabled employees believe managers and organisations support them working from home, and these gains are likely to continue.

people on escalator, one man holds vision assistance cane
The much-shorter commute is one reason many people with disability prefer working from home. Getty[9]

Read more: Australia is lagging when it comes to employing people with disability – quotas for disability services could be a start[10]

Benefits to organisations

In a tight labour market[11], organisations need to keep their workers.

A large study[12] of almost 24,000 people across 27 countries found a quarter of employees said they would quit if forced back to the office. McKinsey researchers[13] found disabled employees were 14% more likely to leave than employees without disability if they could not work in a hybrid way from both home and the office.

Increasing the employment of disabled people[14] enables organisations to access an under-utilised talent pool.

Labour market participation is comparatively low for disabled people. Only 48% of adults with disability are in the labour force, compared to 80% of those without disability[15]. Researchers have found[16] the employment rate for disabled people in Australia has decreased over the past decade.

In the United States, labour shortages post-COVID have reportedly[17] led to increased numbers of disabled people being employed. Australian human resource practices appear to be lagging, with the exception of the public service, which recently announced it would remove the cap[18] on the number of days a week an employee can work from home.

What else can employers do?

Creating inclusive workplaces that value and accept disabled workers means including those working from home. This can be facilitated by:

  • training managers in how to manage hybrid teams (who work from home and a central workplace), hybrid employees and disabled employees working from home
  • assessing the skills and capabilities[19] of disabled employees, rather than focusing on how they fit into a “traditional” workplace
  • allowing employees with disability to work from home to increase their autonomy, productivity and health outcomes
  • enabling managers to approve requests from disabled employees to work from home above any organisational cap. Higher levels of approval can be onerous and may deter employees from requesting to work from home.

Organisations need to take a nuanced approach to working from home. Some employees may benefit from spending more time in the office. For disabled employees, enabling them to exceed a mandatory – and often arbitrary – work-from-home cap may deliver the best outcomes for both organisations and employees.

Read more: Real-life autism disclosures are complex – and reactions can range from dismissal to celebration[20]

References

  1. ^ on-site (www.smh.com.au)
  2. ^ reportedly (www.afr.com)
  3. ^ shows (www.afr.com)
  4. ^ employees with disability (www.canberratimes.com.au)
  5. ^ Part-time work is valuable to people with disability – but full time is more likely to attract government support (theconversation.com)
  6. ^ repeated our survey (onlinelibrary-wiley-com.wwwproxy1.library.unsw.edu.au)
  7. ^ small survey (www.research.lancs.ac.uk)
  8. ^ significant benefit (www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov)
  9. ^ Getty (www.gettyimages.com.au)
  10. ^ Australia is lagging when it comes to employing people with disability – quotas for disability services could be a start (theconversation.com)
  11. ^ tight labour market (www.abc.net.au)
  12. ^ study (www.nber.org)
  13. ^ researchers (www.mckinsey.com)
  14. ^ employment of disabled people (www.latimes.com)
  15. ^ without disability (www.aihw.gov.au)
  16. ^ found (theconversation.com)
  17. ^ reportedly (www.forbes.com)
  18. ^ remove the cap (www.themandarin.com.au)
  19. ^ skills and capabilities (link.springer.com)
  20. ^ Real-life autism disclosures are complex – and reactions can range from dismissal to celebration (theconversation.com)

Read more https://theconversation.com/working-from-home-has-worked-for-people-with-disability-the-back-to-the-office-push-could-wind-back-gains-209870

Times Magazine

From Beach Bops to Alpine Anthems: Your Sonos Survival Guide for a Long Weekend Escape

Alright, fellow adventurers and relaxation enthusiasts! So, you've packed your bags, charged your devices, and mentally prepared for that glorious King's Birthday long weekend. But hold on, are you really ready? Because a true long weekend warrior kn...

Effective Commercial Pest Control Solutions for a Safer Workplace

Keeping a workplace clean, safe, and free from pests is essential for maintaining productivity, protecting employee health, and upholding a company's reputation. Pests pose health risks, can cause structural damage, and can lead to serious legal an...

The Science Behind Reverse Osmosis and Why It Matters

What is reverse osmosis? Reverse osmosis (RO) is a water purification process that removes contaminants by forcing water through a semi-permeable membrane. This membrane allows only water molecules to pass through while blocking impurities such as...

Foodbank Queensland celebrates local hero for National Volunteer Week

Stephen Carey is a bit bananas.   He splits his time between his insurance broker business, caring for his young family, and volunteering for Foodbank Queensland one day a week. He’s even run the Bridge to Brisbane in a banana suit to raise mon...

Senior of the Year Nominations Open

The Allan Labor Government is encouraging all Victorians to recognise the valuable contributions of older members of our community by nominating them for the 2025 Victorian Senior of the Year Awards.  Minister for Ageing Ingrid Stitt today annou...

CNC Machining Meets Stage Design - Black Swan State Theatre Company & Tommotek

When artistry meets precision engineering, incredible things happen. That’s exactly what unfolded when Tommotek worked alongside the Black Swan State Theatre Company on several of their innovative stage productions. With tight deadlines and intrica...

The Times Features

Running Across Australia: What Really Holds the Body Together?

How William Goodge’s 3,800km run reveals the connection between movement, mindset, and mental resilience As a business owner, I’ve come to realise that the biggest wins rarely com...

Telehealth is Transforming Healthcare Services in Australia

It has traditionally not been easy to access timely healthcare in Australia, particularly for people who live in remote areas. Many of them spend hours on the road just to see a...

Launchd Acquires Huume, Strengthening Creative Firepower Across Talent-Led Marketing

Launchd, a leader in talent, technology and brand partnerships, has announced its acquisition of influencer talent management agency Huume from IZEA. The move comes as the medi...

Vietnam's "Gold Coast" Emerges as Extraordinary Investment Frontier and Australian Inspired Way of Life

$2 Billion super-city in Vung Tau set to replicate Australia's Gold Coast success story A culturally metamorphic development aptly named "Gold Coast" is set to reshape Vietna...

Choosing the Wrong Agent Is the #1 Regret Among Aussie Property Sellers

Selling your home is often one of the largest financial transactions you’ll make, and for many Australians, it’s also one of the most emotional. A new survey of Australian home se...

Travel Insurance for Families: What Does it Cover and Why it’s Essential

Planning a family trip is exciting, but unexpected mishaps can turn your dream vacation into a stressful ordeal. That’s where travel insurance comes in—it’s your safety net when ...