More than three quarters of disabled knowledge workers believe ‘outdated’ technology in the workplace is impeding their work opportunities, despite the vast majority of IT decision makers confirming that the technology exists.
This research was carried out by Citirx, an American multinational software company. It found that 77 per cent of disabled knowledge workers hold the opinion that ‘outdated’ technology in the workplace is limiting work opportunities for disabled people.
Citrix also found that 73 per cent of IT decision makers agree with the disabled knowledge workers claim, even though 92 per cent of them agreed that the technology exists.
A knowledge worker is an employee whose main capital is knowledge such as programmers, physicians, architects and scientists.
Most IT leaders (88 per cent) said they have set up their IT department with the aim to support diversity and to assist people with disabilities. As well as 89 per cent of IT departments collaborating with HR to think of new ways to facilitate disability inclusion in their business through technology. However, there seems to be a disconnect between business preparation and what disabled employees need.
Nearly a quarter (24 per cent) of disabled knowledge workers think the majority of UK businesses are not prepared to employ disabled employees, with 37 per cent believing only some businesses are able to do this.
In addition, 72 per cent of disabled knowledge workers thinks businesses are not set up with the right technology to support disabled employees.
Under half (49 per cent) see working remotely as being a way to boost their productivity.
Darren Fields, regional vice president, UK & Ireland at Citrix said:
Many IT departments are playing a pivotal role in improving workforce diversification by collaborating closely with HR and senior business leaders. Yet efforts to set aside budget and deploy the right technology do not go far enough. Businesses must follow through on their pledges and adapt workplace culture if they are to create an environment which enables a truly diverse workforce.
By pairing up-to-date, reliable and adaptable technology with a workplace culture that supports a variety of working patterns, UK businesses can champion diversity at work and access a wider pool of talent, including employees with disabilities. This is a true differentiator for recruitment and can remove barriers to this largely untapped workforce, leading to subsequent enterprise productivity gains.
In order to obtain these results, Citrix commissioned Censuswide, a survey consultant to ask the opinions of 250 disabled knowledge workers and 250 IT decision makers in a large business in the UK.
Darius is the editor of HRreview. He has previously worked as a finance reporter for the Daily Express. He studied his journalism masters at Press Association Training and graduated from the University of York with a degree in History.