October is National Disability Employment Awareness Month, making this the perfect opportunity to recognize those who work hard despite their differing abilities. Millions of Americans suffer from mental and physical disabilities that can make employment challenging. Fortunately, there are many companies that go out of their way to hire these workers and accommodate their different needs.

Unfortunately, many disabled workers face discrimination. Some companies do not want to be bothered with these workers. However, with some accommodation, disabled workers can become valuable employees. There are many reasons why companies should consider hiring disabled workers.

Advantages of Hiring Disabled Workers

Here are some reasons to add disabled workers to your company’s workforce:

They are hardworking. Many disabled workers can achieve work goals at the same level as any other employee. Some live alone. To accomplish this, they have to work hard. You can bet they will work hard for any company that chooses to hire them.
They are loyal. Disabled workers can be trusted and are generally loyal to their bosses. Studies show that disabled workers may be even more loyal than their co-workers who are not disabled.
It projects a good image. A company will be looked upon more favorably if they have a history of hiring disabled workers.
It prevents legal problems. It can be hard to accuse a company of disability discrimination if they have multiple disabled people on the payroll.
It encourages diversity. Disabled workers have different experiences than those who are able-bodied. They may also look at things differently, which means they may different perspectives and innovative solutions to problems.
Lower turnover. Disabled workers tend to be satisfied with their jobs. They are efficient and receive little negative feedback on their performance. Because they tend to be loyal, they also prefer to stay in their position rather than change jobs on a frequent basis.

Disability Discrimination Laws

Under federal law, an employer is not allowed to treat a job applicant or employee unfavorably solely based on his or her disability. This includes all aspects of employment, including hiring, firing, promotions, layoffs, and fringe benefits. If a person is unable to do the job due to a disability, the employer must make reasonable accommodations. The only exception would be undue hardship, such as if it would be too costly or time-consuming to make such an accommodation.

A disabled person is protected from not only discrimination, but harassment as well. When the harassment is frequent and so severe that is causes a hostile work environment, it becomes illegal.

Contact a New York Disability Discrimination Attorney

Disabled workers can often perform the same duties as those who are able-bodied. By providing reasonable accommodations, employers can benefit from hiring disabled workers.

Discrimination against disabled workers is against the law. If you feel you have faced discrimination or harassment, the experienced New York employment law attorneys at Ricotta & Marks, P.C. can help. We understand the law and can help build a successful case. Get started by calling our office at (716) 301-2704.

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