Abstract
BACKGROUND: Although African Americans and Hispanic/Latinx Americans with multiple sclerosis (MS) frequently cite workplace discrimination as a major concern, the specific nature of this discrimination is not yet well understood. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to investigate racial/ethnic differences in allegations of workplace discrimination by Caucasian, African American, and Hispanic/Latinx American individuals with MS. METHODS: The United States Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) Integrated Mission System (IMS) database was used to describe and compare the frequency and characteristics of discrimination allegations filed by people with MS in the three race/ethnicity groups. Quantitative analyses, including a one-way analysis of variance and Chi-square tests, were used to examine 2009-2016 Americans with Disabilities Act Amendments Act (ADAAA) Title I complaints. These complaints were received by the EEOC from people with MS who identified themselves as Caucasian, African American, and Hispanic/Latinx American (N = 3,770). RESULTS: Both African Americans and Hispanic/Latinx Americans tended to encounter discrimination at a younger age than Caucasian Americans. African American and Hispanic/Latinx American charging parties were more likely to be women than were Caucasian charging parties. The size and location of employers against whom allegations were filed varied significantly among the three racial/ethnic groups. The EEOC was more likely to resolve allegations in the charging parties' favor when the allegations were filed by Caucasians. CONCLUSION: The present study revealed modest but significant differences in the workplace discrimination experiences of the three groups under study. More research is needed to determine why racial/ethnic status bears on the discrimination experiences of Americans with MS.
Original language | English |
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Pages (from-to) | 93-106 |
Number of pages | 14 |
Journal | Journal of Vocational Rehabilitation |
Volume | 56 |
Issue number | 1 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - 2022 |
Bibliographical note
Funding Information:Funding for this study was provided by a research grant from the National Multiple Sclerosis Society, New York, NY (grant # SI-2012-37169).
Funding Information:
Schultz K.S., Sirotnik B.W., & Bockman S. (2007 Sept. 2). Plight of an aging workforce [Internet]. Research report funded by the California State University Faculty Research Fel-lows program for the California Assembly Speaker’s Office of Member Services. Available at: http://www.csus.edu/calst/ Government Affairs/reports/ffp36.pdf Sheppard-Jones, K., Avellone, L., Rumrill, P., & Seward, H. (2021). Impact of COVID-19: Considerations for individu-als with developmental disabilities across major life domains. Journal of Vocational Rehabilitation, 54, 5-13.
Publisher Copyright:
© 2022 - IOS Press. All rights reserved.
Keywords
- Multiple sclerosis
- Racial comparisons
- Workplace discrimination
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Rehabilitation
- Occupational Therapy