Employer satisfaction, job-match and future hiring intentions for employees with a disability

Article type: Research Article

Authors: Smith, Kaye | Webber, Lynne | Graffam, Joe | Wilson, Carlene

Affiliations: School of Health and Social Development, Deakin University, Australia | Department of Psychology, University of Adelaide, South Australia

Note: [] Address for correspondence: Dr. Kaye Smith, School of Health and Social Development, Deakin University, 221 Burwood Highway, Burwood, VIC. 3125, Australia. Tel.: +61 03 9244 6158; E-mail: [email protected]

Abstract: This paper is based on survey responses from 656 employers who used disability employment services to employ someone with a disability. Relationships between employer satisfaction and employer perceptions of job-match and future hiring intentions toward people who have a disability are outlined and discussed. Employers' perceptions of the job-match process were found to be an important determinant of their perceptions of work performance and employer satisfaction. Comparative ratings on employer satisfaction for employees with and without a disability were seen as an important indicator of future hiring intentions toward people with a disability. Findings reported in this paper provide important information on which to base strategies for improving future employment outcomes for people who have a disability.

Keywords: employer satisfaction, employment, disability, job-match, work performance, hiring intentions

Journal: Journal of Vocational Rehabilitation, vol. 21, no. 3, pp. 165-173, 2004