10 Reasons Why You Should Declare Your Disability on Your Job Application & 3 Reasons Why You Shouldn’t.
Here are the reasons why you SHOULD declare your disability on your job application:
- Employment is covered by the Disability Discrimination Act and Equality Act. This means it is unlawful for employers to discriminate against people with disabilities in their recruitment and selection procedures.
- If you declare and then subsequently feel that you have been discriminated against then you can take a claim to an employment tribunal. A company cannot reject you because you are disabled if a reasonable adjustment can be made to accommodate you.
- If you declare your disability in your application you will have more control over the way that you project it. You can give your disability positive spin. I’ I have a physical disability and I coach a Paralympic swimming team” or “Because of my hearing impairment I have an enhanced ability to concentrate which in turn has developed my ability to perform complex tasks such as entering and analysing data on spreadsheets”.
- If you don’t make accurate declarations on a health questionnaire the employer may have grounds to subsequently dismiss you.
- If your disability has any health and safety implications for you or other employees, you are legally obliged to tell your employer.
- You will give yourself the opportunity to discuss with the employer, the possibility of reasonable adjustments and the support you can get from access to work to make those adjustments.
- Disclosure will generate an open and trustful relationship between you and your prospective employer where you communicate well and openly.
- You will be able from the outset to deal with misconceptions about your disability.
- If your employer is aware of your disability they will be more able to be responsive to your needs particularly if there is an emergency or a crisis.
- If your disability has an impact upon your work this will not be misinterpreted as a performance issue.
Here are the reasons why you SHOULDN’T disclose your disability on your job application.
- You might feel uncomfortable disclosing and then having to discuss your disability with a stranger.
- Your disability will have no impact on your ability to the job and no adjustments will need to be made for you.
- You feel that you may be discriminated against.
If you are still not sure? Talk through you decision with your career coach or someone you trust. To get in contact with Enable Works call us on 01905 676141 or fill out out simple online contact form.