Workplace Accommodations During the Pandemic: A Scoping Review of Their Impact on People with Disabilities

OBJECTIVE(S): To examine the impact and implications of workplace accommodations during the COVID-19 pandemic for people with disabilities. DATA SOURCES: Systematic searches were conducted from the following DATA SOURCES: Medline, PsycINFO, Scopus, Applied Social Sciences Index and Abstracts, Sociological Abstracts and Google Scholar. STUDY SELECTION: The following inclusion criteria were applied: (i) article published or early online in a peer-reviewed journal from 2019 to 2021 (without language restrictions), and explicitly addressing both (ii) workplace accommodations, adjustments, or modifications during the pandemic and (iii) the impact or implications for people with disabilities. Two reviewers screened all abstracts. DATA EXTRACTION: Articles were selected by two reviewers, and data was abstracted in accordance with scoping review methodology. DATA SYNTHESIS: Thirty-seven studies met the inclusion criteria. Studies were analyzed following the guidance for thematic analysis. Three main themes were identified: (1) positive impacts of pandemic-related workplace accommodations on people with disabilities (e.g., improved accessibility, reduced stigma around workplace accommodations, rapid implementation of workplace accommodation, opportunities for advocacy); (2) negative impacts (e.g., worsened physical and mental health, new accommodation needs); and (3) action needed and recommendations (e.g., revisit legislation and policy on accommodations, ensure representation of people with disabilities). CONCLUSIONS: This review identified a mixed assessment of the impacts of workplace accommodations during the pandemic on people with disabilities. However, there was a broad consensus regarding the importance of learning from the experiences of the pandemic and taking action to improve accommodation policies in the future. Further empirical research on the workplace accommodation experiences of employees with disabilities during the pandemic is needed. AUTHOR(S) DISCLOSURES: None.