Factors Influencing the Inclusion of People with Disabilities in Companies: An Empirical Analysis Based on the 2018 BIBB/BAuA Employment Survey

Occupational participation is a mainstay of social inclusion, and this is especially true for people with disabilities. Furlough schemes, being forced to work from home, social distancing and the consequent isolation pose a particular challenge for those with impairments, since in many cases they thus forfeit a sense of community and opportunities to bond with a team. Based on the 2018 BIBB/BAuA Employment Survey, this study examines the significance of a supportive and inclusive working atmosphere for employee job satisfaction and the importance of various influencing factors, particularly for people with disabilities. The results show that staff members who regularly perceive their superiors as supportive and frequently experience a sense of community are significantly more satisfied with the opportunities offered by their work to make use of their skills. This applies to a greater extent to employees with disabilities than to those without. Personnel measures such as the offer of workplace health promotion also increase the likelihood that employees will be generally satisfied with their work situation - again, this is significantly more often the case for staff with disabilities than for those with none.