Disability harassment is a form of discrimination that occurs when an individual with a disability is subjected to negative or hostile behaviour in the workplace. This type of harassment can take many forms, including verbal abuse, physical assault, and discrimination in terms of hiring, promotions, or job assignments. In this blog post, we will explore several examples of disability harassment in the workplace.

  1. Verbal Abuse: Verbal abuse can take many forms, including name-calling, mocking, or belittling disabled people. This type of harassment can be especially hurtful and can lead to a hostile and intimidating work environment.
  2. Physical Assault: Physical assault is a serious form of disability harassment and can include acts such as pushing, hitting, or grabbing disabled people. This type of behaviour is not only illegal, but it can also cause significant physical and emotional harm.
  3. Discrimination in Hiring and Promotions: Disability harassment can also take the form of discrimination in hiring and promotions. For example, an employer may refuse to hire or promote an individual with a disability, even though they are qualified for the position. This type of discrimination is illegal and can significantly impact an individual’s career. 
  4. Ignoring reasonable accommodations: An employer is legally required to provide reasonable accommodations to people with disability to assist them in performing their job duties. Ignoring these requests or failing to provide them is a form of disability harassment.
  5. Spread rumours and gossip: Spreading rumours or gossip about an individual with a disability is another form of disability harassment. This type of behaviour can be very damaging to an individual’s reputation and can lead to a hostile work environment.

It’s important to note that disability harassment is illegal under the Disability Discrimination Act and can have serious consequences for both the victim and the perpetrator. If you or someone you know is experiencing disability harassment in the workplace, it’s important to speak up and take action to address the problem.