This study describes the social interactions and activities of 15 workers with mental retardation employed in supported competitive employment positions and 15 of their co-workers. Direct observation and a frequency recording system were used to assess the social integration of employees during work hours and breaktime. The results suggest that supported employees and co-workers do not differ in the total number of interactions in which they engage. Co-workers were found to interact more frequently during breaktime and to participate in work-related interactions more often, than the supported employees. Additionally, supported employees were found to engage in inappropriate interactions more frequently than their co-workers. These results are discussed in relation to their implications for supported employment services and future research.
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