12 million people suffer from a disability in France which represents one in five French people. Whether it is a motor or an invisible disability or deafness, anyone can be affected by a disability at any time in their life. So, what about disabilities within companies? Here is a summary of the legislation and of the possible activities you can organise to raise awareness among your collaborators.
Disabilities within companies: key figures
In October 2021, the observatory of disabilities presented the elements related to disabilities within companies. Here is an overview of the employment of disabled people in France.
1 million disabled people are working
On an administrative level, 2.7 million people are labelled as disabled.
They suffer from invalidating diseases or from:
- A motor infirmity;
- An invisible disability;
- A mental or motor disability.
Among this category of people, 1 million of them have a stable job in an industry. They represent 3.6% of the workforce.
Most of the people that have a disability work a full-time job and 11% of them work as executives. The man/woman quota is quite balanced.
A rise in employment of people suffering from a disability
The employment rate of disabled people in a traditional environment would be rising according to the statistics shown earlier. Despite that, the quota of disabled people who work in a company only accounts for 4.3% of all employment procedures.
What says the law about disabilities in companies?
Disabilities: which employment obligations within companies?
The law’s text on disabilities from 2005 contributes to ensure equality of rights and chances for everyone. It notably states the following rights:
- Compensation;
- Education;
- Acessibility.
Let’s see what it is about in more detail regarding the job market.
The legal framework
If your company employs more than 20 people, the percentage of disabled workers has to reach 6% of your total workforce.
If you just hired your 20th employee or if you have just started your company, you have 5 years to conform to the law. The annual countdown is done with full-time equivalents (ETP).
The employees relevant to the law can:
- Benefit from an RQTH (reconnaissance de la qualité de travailleur handicapé or recongnition of disabled worker status) ;
- Benefit from a disability allowance for 2/3rds;
- Pretend to the disabled adult allocation;
- Etc.
Also know that no matter the size of your company, you must declare the disability quota within your company.
Disability stigmatisation: a still-topical topic
19% of French people think that people suffering from a disability cannot work.
Policy relatied to disabilities was put in place within companies. Despite that, disabilities are still one of the main motives of discrimination. That is at least what shows the barometer established by the Defender of Rights report.
There are several ways disabilities are stigmatised in our society:
- Unkind remarks regarding mental disabilities;
- Insults;
- Harassment;
- Job refusal or bad adjustments for an existing job;
- Etc.
It must be known that if you break the law you can be sentenced to up to:
- 5 years of prison
- 75 000€ in fines
Times are changing. However, even if the law forbids it, disdain and all forms of discriminations still exist within our society. Inclusion is everyone’s responsibility so how can we promote it?
Disability awareness campaign within a company
Talking about disabilities
Communication on disabilities in companies brings real added value to get rid of wrong representations that are still too present.
In order to rally everyone on these topics, the government has already issued the broadcasting of TV programs which were diverse accounts about disabilities in companies and in other daily life situations.
These were broadcasted during prime time with the aim to get rid of the prejudices surrounding this notion.
Games to raise awareness of disabilities
PlayMoovin’ is a company from Auvergne which created an innovating wheelchair that is specifically made for awareness activities: the Freemoovin’.
This wheelchair made of reinforced plastic is intended to raise awareness of disabilities among the most amount of people. Indeed, sport is an excellent conveyor of learning in this case. It allows to comprehend the world as if you were a person with reduced mobility. Let’s face it, it is also a great occasion to have a good laugh with colleagues.
The sports you can demonstrate can be wheelchair rugby for example or any other wheelchair sport. We have carried numerous activities within companies ourselves.
As an example, employees from Bouygues have had the occasion to try para sport activities for the first time. It was a great occasion for them to realise that difference does not rhyme with inability at all.
Disabled workers suffer from important stigmatisation, but there is still time to change how people view disabilities in the workplace. So, if you want to strengthen the bonds between your colleagues and work towards the inclusion of your collaborators suffering from a disability, call us so we can help you carry out your first awareness activity and/or by giving you access to our wheelchairs through renting!
