The Complexity of Disability Inclusion in the Workplace: A South African Study
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Factors in Studying Employment for Persons with Disability
ISBN: 978-1-78714-606-8, eISBN: 978-1-78714-605-1
Publication date: 4 September 2017
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this research is to investigate the process of development and implementation of strategies to promote diversity and inclusion of persons with disabilities in the workplace within Netcare (the largest private hospital group) in South Africa.
Methodology/approach
A single case study methodology is used to document best practices developed at Netcare for the integration of persons with disabilities in the workplace.
Findings
The case study demonstrates that integrating people with disabilities in the workplace is a complex process that requires bringing together disability theory/model and organizational change models. Disability integration within Netcare is an ongoing process with positive gains and gaps that can be leveraged to improve the process. Nonetheless, significant improvements in the number of persons with disability integrated at work as well as a good retention rate in the skills development program have been realized.
Practical implications
The documentation of practice based initiatives such as those developed by Netcare is useful for future cross-organizational and cross-context comparative studies. This will ultimately redirect policy and research agendas from the deficit analysis approach towards a more positive inquiry based upon practical and workable solutions.
Social implications
The treatment of disability as a silo identity does not provide full appreciation of the multiple intersecting identities that interlock to position some persons with disabilities in positions of privilege and marginalization simultaneously.
Originality/value
This chapter reveals the importance of situating disability mainstreaming within a broader organizational transformation strategy. Legislating social and organizational transformation issues is necessary but insufficient to produce the desired social change. This research highlights the value of inculcating transformative leadership culture and building leadership accountability to realize the desired social and organizational change.
Keywords
Acknowledgements
Acknowledgments
We would like to thank the executive leadership of Netcare Limited for granting us permission to study their disability strategies and initiatives for the purpose of writing this chapter.
We would also like to acknowledge Prof Leslie Swartz, Stellenbosch University for mentoring, facilitating our thinking towards conceptualizing this chapter and providing that objective readership.
Conflict of interest
The authors declare that they have no financial interest which may have inappropriately influenced them in writing this chapter.
Disclosure
Although the co-author holds a PHD from the University of the Witwatersrand’s Centre for Diversity Studies, he is currently working for Netcare on a full time basis. He has been directly involved in the development and execution of the case presented in this chapter. The initiatives and statistics discussed in this chapter can also be found in Netcare’s annual reports for further reference and authentication.
Citation
Ndzwayiba, N. and Ned, L. (2017), "The Complexity of Disability Inclusion in the Workplace: A South African Study
Publisher
:Emerald Publishing Limited
Copyright © 2017 Emerald Publishing Limited