EDITOR’S QUESTION
HOW DOES
TECHNOLOGY
CONTRIBUTE TO
EFFICIENCY IN
THE WORKPLACE
AND CREATE A
POSITIVE WORKING
ENVIRONMENT?
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A
ccording to new research, Citrix
has revealed that outdated
workplace technology is limiting
UK employment opportunities for disabled
staff in particular. Almost eight in 10 (77%)
disabled knowledge workers – someone who
typically works in an office environment
or has knowledge-based skills which are
involved in his/her everyday role – believe
outdated technology in the workplace is
limiting work opportunities for people with
disabilities in the UK. Nearly three quarters
(73%) of IT decision makers agree, despite
92% confirming that technology now exists
which should enable any business to employ
a disabled individual as a knowledge worker.
Commissioned by Citrix and carried out by
Censuswide, this research aimed to identify
the current role of technology in opening up
employment opportunities for individuals
with disabilities and discover whether UK
organisations are set up to successfully
employ new talent from this potentially
untapped workforce. By surveying 500
respondents – 250 IT decision makers and
250 disabled knowledge workers with a
physical or sensory impairment – in large UK
businesses, this research examines the extent
to which companies are deploying technology
and tasking the IT department to facilitate
greater diversity in the workplace, with a focus
on the disabled workforce.
32
INTELLIGENTCIO
The research revealed a disconnect between
business preparations and the needs of
employees with disabilities in terms of
technology and support. Almost a quarter
(24%) of disabled knowledge workers
think the majority of UK businesses are not
properly prepared to employ individuals with
disabilities and set them up for success.
Almost a quarter (24%) of disabled
knowledge workers believe companies don’t
really consider the impact of new technology
on employees with disabilities when deciding
on new technology to roll out. A further 43%
feel it is only considered sometimes. This
missed opportunity to apply the overarching
business principles to consistently focus
on implementing the right IT for a more
diverse workforce was reflected in IT leaders’
responses: just 48% always consider the
impact of new technology on disabled
employees, despite the existence of such
agreed upon principles.
Although 39% of disabled knowledge
workers believe having a disability makes no
difference for an individual’s career options,
almost a third (30%) think it has a negative
impact. Of these respondents, the majority
(72%) say a key factor is that businesses are
not set up with the right technology to allow
disabled employees to work in the way that
best suits them.
The research highlights that technology
which enables staff to work in a more flexible
way, such as from a remote location, is a
major draw for potential disabled employees.
When deciding whether they would want to
work for an organisation, 86% of disabled
knowledge workers are influenced by
the technology that an employer makes
available to staff and 85% also factor in
whether there is an option to work remotely.
Nearly a quarter of disabled knowledge
workers (27%) and IT decision makers
(22%) ‘strongly agree’ that the organisation
they work for ‘talks a good game about
diversity without really acting’.
Despite this, almost three quarters (72%)
of disabled knowledge workers paint a
more positive picture, stating that British
businesses are improving at supporting
employment opportunities for disabled
people by updating technology platforms,
implementing policies like flexible working
and generally evolving the company culture
to support a diverse workforce which includes
those with disabilities.
We spoke to industry experts about the
general consensus when it comes to
workplace technology and how it contributes
to a positive working environment. . . .
www.intelligentcio.com