Grant: Project Grant

Job tenure is a significant issue for individuals with a severe mental disorder, as successful employment and the economic self-sufficiency it provides are important to recovery. Supported employment (SE) programs help people with severe mental disorders obtain employment. However, job tenure for people with a severe mental disorder is often brief. One of the best predictors of job tenure is the implementation of work accommodations. However, accessing accommodations in the workplace requires disclosure of the mental disorder, and fear of stigma may lead employees to choose not to disclose. Decision-making about disclosure at work is thus a complex process, as disclosing can have both positive (e.g., work accommodation) and negative (e.g., stigma) outcomes. We will specifically be exploring disclosure to the immediate supervisor, as the supervisor plays a significant role in the implementation of work accommodations and relevant employment outcomes (job satisfaction, job tenure). Participants (n=300) will be recruited from SE programs in Ontario and Quebec. We will collect both quantitative and qualitative data, over multiple time points. Participants will be enrolled in the study at the time of gaining competitive employment. We will follow up with participants 6 months after study enrollment to collect data on disclosure and outcomes, including work accommodations, job satisfaction, stigma, work productivity, and job tenure. A subsample of participants (n=45) will be invited for an in-depth interview in which they will be asked about disclosure decision-making and the experience of disclosing, if applicable. Our study will provide a deeper understanding of the impact of disclosure on stigma and work outcomes (e.g., implementation of work accommodations), allowing organizations to enhance inclusivity, leading to increased job tenure, enhanced recovery and well-being for individuals, and increased productivity and reduced disability claims costs for organizations.