Examples Of Disability Harassment In The Workplace

Examples of disability harassment in the workplace are worth separating from discrimination, because they involve conduct rather than decisions.

• Mimicking a person’s speech, movement or mannerisms.
• Repeated jokes about a condition, or about disability generally, in front of the person.
• Questioning whether a disability is real, or suggesting someone is exaggerating for advantage.
• Commenting on medication, appointments or treatment.
• Speaking to a support person or interpreter rather than to the person.
• Referring to a person by their condition rather than their name.

No decision is being made in any of these, and no manager needs to be involved at all. Each of them can still amount to harassment on the ground of disability, and the organisation still carries a duty to address it.

The Australian Human Rights Commission publishes guidance. This is general information rather than legal advice, and obligations vary by state and territory.

See Sentrient’s disability awareness training and respect at work training.