Scoliosis is a common medical condition in which a person’s spine bends or curves. It often starts to happen in children aged between 10-15 and can occur on its own without any underlying condition, or in conjunction with conditions such as cerebral palsy or muscular dystrophy.
Some people with scoliosis experience very few symptoms or problems connected with the condition. Others may have associated pain, muscle cramps, or problems in other joints or limbs. Issues that are more common among people with scoliosis are shame or embarrassment at the condition or do with wearing a back brace. This can cause mental health and social issues.
Scoliosis is something that can impact people in the workplace. Especially so in this issue of feeling different and standing out. As such, it is something that should be supported in the workplace. Employers can do a lot to help people with scoliosis feel safe and respected at work.
On this page of our Disability Advice Hub, we are going to talk a little more about how this can happen.
Having Scoliosis at Work
As we have stated in our previous section, people living with scoliosis will have different experiences with the condition. Some may experience pain, others may not. Some may have mobility issues, for others, this may not be an issue. One of the biggest issues is, in fact, feeling different from others around you and having self-confidence problems.
Some people with scoliosis may have, unfortunately, experienced bullying or discrimination in the past due to their physical appearance. They may be fearful that this will happen again in the workplace.
As such, one of the best ways to protect yourself as someone with scoliosis is to find an inclusive, accessible job opportunity with an employer of the same creed. Some ways in which you can check that a job will have the right kind of environment for you in advance are:
- Noticing if their recruitment process is inclusive. Do they offer reasonable adjustments in the interview room? Do they offer alternative formats for forms and applications?
- Checking if their physical working environment is accessible for all kinds of people. This includes lift/ramp access, toilet facilities, desk and seat options/arrangments, break facilities, and so on.
- Seeing if materials and communication use inclusive language for disabled people and avoid stereotypes and offensive or exclusionary language
- Checking if the employer is signed up for the Disability-Confident scheme
- Looking up the employer’s EDI figures and whether they publish them and commit to change and improvement
- Reaching out to current employees and asking how they are treated at work and how they feel about the working environment
Finding a Supportive Job Environment
If you want to find a job where you can be protected from discrimination, you can do so on our disability-friendly job board on Careers with Disabilities. We believe that everyone should get fair and equal opportunities at work and we believe in accessible, inclusive work environments. Our inclusive job board helps disabled people connect with the right opportunities.
Hopefully, you will find the support you are looking for with us.
How Employers Can Help
As an employer, it is important that you listen to your employees and their unique experiences. You cannot assume how someone feels at work with scoliosis until you ask. Due to this fact, it is critical to set up a working environment in which your employees feel comfortable disclosing their disabilities and discussing any issues with you.
It is also very important that you show your employees you care about how they are treated at work. People with scoliosis can, unfortunately, be bullied or discriminated against due to their physical difference. It is vital that, in supporting these employees, you show a strict no-tolerance policy towards discrimination, bullying, or exclusion.
Discrimination is, of course, illegal under the Equality Act, and so you are able to discipline and dismiss members of staff who engage in discrimination. You can also decrease the likelihood of it occurring by creating an accessible and inclusive working environment.
One of the best ways to do this is to sign up for the Disability-Confident scheme and commit yourself to become a fair employer of disabled people.
You can find help and support with this with us at Careers with Disabilities. Our unique services for employers can help you become the best employer possible for the disabled employees you already have and to find new diverse job seekers through our disability-friendly job board.
Whatever you need to support disabled employees, we have it here on our site. If you can’t find what you need, don’t hesitate to get in touch.
