Workplace adaptations promoting the inclusion of persons with disabilities in mainstream employment: A case-study on employers’ responses in Norway

Abstract

This case-study conducted in Norway investigates employers’ responses to policy measures implemented throughout 2006-2015 and aimed at promoting the inclusion of persons with disabilities (PwDs) into mainstream employment by providing workplace adaptations. For this purpose, we apply a multi-method approach by combining in-depth qualitative interviews conducted with the managers at two large private companies in Norway and quantitative shift-share analysis performed on the Norwegian Disabled People LFS data. While the shift-share analysis has demonstrated positive effects in the employment of PwDs at the national level and in providing adaptations at work during 2011-2015 for ‘changes of working time’, ‘need for one or more adaptations’ and ‘changes of work tasks’, ‘physical adaptations’ remain negative. The qualitative interviews report that ‘flexibility’ or ‘changes of working time’ is the main workplace adaptation the managers at both companies provide to own employees who return to work after acquiring a disability or having a long-term illness. Both companies demonstrate high conformity to accessibility standards, however, the provision of workplace adaptations to PwDs without prior work experience remains limited or absent despite the disability policy measures in Norway in that period and the companies’ commitment to inclusion.