DISABILITIES IN THE WORKPLACE

Almost Half (47%) Would Try to Hide a Non-Visible Disability Such as Depression or Dyslexia from Their Employer or Co-Workers

Toronto, Ontario -- The results of an Angus Reid/Royal Bank survey released today reveal that more than seven in ten (72%) Canadians say that companies should invest more in reducing workplace barriers for persons with disabilities. Almost two-thirds (64%) of Canadians say that persons with disabilities are less likely than persons without disabilities to be hired for a job even if they are equally qualified and almost half (47%) say they would try to hide a non-visible disability (such as depression or dyslexia) from their employer or co-workers.

These are the findings of an Angus Reid poll conducted between March 9th and March 16th, 2000. The poll is based on a randomly selected sample of 1,500 adult Canadians. With a sample of this size, the results are considered accurate to within 177 2.5 percentage points, 19 times out of 20, of what they would have been had the entire Canadian population been polled. The margin of error will be larger within regions and for other sub-groupings of the survey population. These data were statistically weighted to ensure the sample's regional and age/sex composition reflects that of the actual Canadian population according to the 1996 Census data.

Seven in Ten (72%) Canadians Say Companies Should Invest More in Reducing Workplace Barriers for Persons with Disabilities

Seven in ten (72%) of those surveyed say that Canadian companies should invest more in reducing workplace barriers for Canadians with disabilities. Just over one-third (35%) of Canadians say that they work with someone who has either a visible or non-visible disability, and a minority (44%) of Canadians say that their workplace is accessible to employees with visible and non-visible disabilities.

• Low income Canadians (80%) are also more likely than middle (72%) or high income (65%) Canadians to feel that companies should invest more in reducing barriers.
• This sentiment is higher in Quebec (79%) than in other provinces.
• Women (77%) as opposed to men (67%) are more likely to say companies should invest more.

Two-Thirds (64%) of Canadians Say that Persons with Disabilities are Less Likely than those Without a Disability to be Hired for a Job Even if They are Equally Qualified

Almost two-thirds (64%) of Canadians feel that persons with disabilities are less likely than those without a disability to be hired for a job even if they are equally qualified.

Similarly, seven in ten (72%) Canadians agree that finding employment is a much bigger concern for Canadians with disabilities than it is for those without disabilities.

• The sentiment that people with disabilities are less likely to be hired is higher in Quebec (73%) than in the rest of Canada but is consistent across demographic lines such as age, income and gender.
• The feeling that employment is a bigger concern for Canadians with disabilities tends to increase with age. Two-thirds (66%) of those under 35 as compared to three-quarters (75%) of those 35 and older agree that finding employment is a much bigger concern for people with disabilities.
• Regionally, Quebecers (62%) are less likely than residents of other provinces to feel this way.

Almost Half (47%) Would Try to Hide a Non-Visible Disability Such as Depression or Dyslexia from their Employer or Co-Workers

Just under half (47%) of Canadians agree that if they had a non-visible disability (such as dyslexia or depression) they would hide it from their employer and co-workers.

• Canadians who earn $60,000 and over (55%) are more likely to say they would hide a non-visible disability than those who earn less than $60,000 (45%).

For a copy of the Royal Bank's media release please visit the Royal Bank newsroom

John Wright
Senior Vice President
Angus Reid Group
(416) 324-2900