The Relationship Between Meeting Workplace Accommodation Needs and Job Disruptions Among Canadians Working With Disabilities: A Cross-Sectional Analysis

J Occup Environ Med. 2025 Jan 1;67(1):e54-e60. doi: 10.1097/JOM.0000000000003262.

Abstract

Objective: This research explores whether having accommodation needs met reduces job disruptions.

Methods: A cross-sectional survey (n = 955) of Canadians working with physical and/or mental/cognitive disabilities was used to assess the association between having workplace accommodations (ie, flexibility, modifications) needs met and four types of job disruptions. Analyses used marginal effects models to adjust for demographic and work context variables.

Results: Participants with work modification needs met had a 7.7% decrease in lost work time. Participants with workplace flexibility needs met had a 9.9% increase in lost work time. Having workplace flexibility or modification needs met were not associated with the other job disruption outcomes.

Conclusions: Modifications may help to reduce lost work time for workers with disabilities. Flexibility may increase lost time, which is explained by it enabling workers to attend to personal needs during working hours.

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Canada
  • Cross-Sectional Studies
  • Disabled Persons* / statistics & numerical data
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • North American People
  • Surveys and Questionnaires
  • Workplace*
  • Young Adult

Supplementary concepts

  • Canadian people