Disclosure of disability and workplace accommodations for employees with disabilities in Saudi Arabia

Abstract

Whether employees with disabilities disclose their disability in the workplace significantly influences their success, job continuity, and ability to access the benefits provided by their employers significantly. This study explores the challenges and procedures associated with disability disclosure and providing workplace accommodations for employees with disabilities in Saudi Arabia. A qualitative research design was employed to achieve the study’s objective, using interviews with 20 employees with disabilities working in the governmental, semi-governmental, and private sectors. Three central themes emerged from the interviewees’ responses: (1) procedures for disclosing a disability in the workplace, (2) the challenges that employees with disabilities face in disclosing disability, and (3) workplace accommodations available to employees with disabilities. The study concludes that ongoing efforts are needed to improve disability disclosure procedures and raise awareness among employees with disabilities and their employers of the importance of disclosure.