Timothy Bartram, a professor from RMIT University’s School of Management, notes that HR’s failure to appreciate these workers and their use of old HR methods results in this group feeling isolated and excluded in the workplace. Unlike HR’s inclusion efforts for employees based on race and gender that are sincere, efforts on behalf of the intellectually challenged often come across as a token effort, he added.
“Those with intellectual disabilities can often display unique talents and perspectives, such as mathematical, organisation and technical abilities to contribute to organisational performance,” Bartram noted. “But without an inclusive workplace culture, managers struggle to incorporate these people and their unique perspectives into job roles and so are unable to utilise their insights.”