In an article published by the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM), Brooke Ehrlich, a partner in the Firm’s Employment & Labor Division, comments on obstacles individuals with disabilities face in the workplace, specifically implicit bias.
Due to the COVID-19 health crisis, unemployment has sharply risen, especially among people with disabilities. Approximately one million U.S. workers with disabilities have lost their jobs since the onset of the coronavirus pandemic.
“Individuals with outwardly visible disabilities [might] be disregarded or presumed less capable than their nondisabled counterparts,” said Brooke. “Studies have shown that even the most progressive and inclusive employers can be influenced by implicit bias. In other words, their hiring decisions may be unconsciously influenced by deeply held attitudes and negative stereotypes about disabled individuals.”
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