Do Disability Laws Impair Firm Performance?

摘要

Disability laws have been the subject of significant discussion. They were heralded as revolutionary legislation that would transform the workplace for the disabled. Disabled workers would have greater access to their worksites, be more productive, and not suffer the indignity of unequal treatment at the hands of prejudiced coworkers and managers. In spite of these hopes, uncertainties remain. Some question whether disability laws actually improve employment for the disabled-but rather create the unintended consequence of making the hiring of disabled workers less attractive to firms. Others respond that the relatively low cost of individual accommodations does not detract from the hiring of the disabled; they support the laudatory goal of creating a discrimination-free environment for the disabled.