Receipt of workplace accommodations does not vary by race/ethnicity but does vary by organization size for older workers in the U.S

Abstract

Background:

Prior research has found evidence that persons who are nonwhite are less likely to receive workplace accommodations than other persons.

Objective:

To test whether the receipt of workplace accommodations by adults aged 50 and older who had work limitations varies by race/ethnicity in the U.S., controlling for age, gender, education, organizational size, and the physical nature of the occupation.

Methods:

Bivariate and logistic regressions using 2002 to 2018 Health and Retirement Study data on adults aged 50 and older with a work limitation (n = 6,711).

Results:

Receipt of workplace accommodations does not vary by race/ethnicity for U.S. adults aged 50 and older who had a work limitation, with an estimated 34% to 37% of all older adults receiving accommodations across all racial categories. Receipt of accommodations was more likely for persons working at organizations that employed 100 or more people, holding all else constant.

Conclusion:

Smaller employers may benefit from training or other supports to increase the availability of workplace accommodations. Workers with disabilities might also benefit from increased education offered by vocational rehabilitation agencies, workforce development programs, and other similar organizations on how to make requests for and implement reasonable accommodations.