Appendix I: Guidelines for Employee Interview on Reasonable Accommodations

Prepared by Laura L Mancuso

Introductory Discussion

Describe purpose and scope of study, how results will be disseminated.
Tell interviewee he/she may choose not to answer any questions and may end interview at any time without any repercussions.
Discuss confidentiality. Determine how the person/organization will be identified in the final report.
Request permission to audiotape.
Offer honoraria ($25/interview) if we are meeting outside working hours.
Ask if interviewee has any questions before we begin.

Interview Questions for Worker

Worker Characteristics

age, gender, race/ethnicity
current residence (single family residence, apartment, group home, board & care home, etc.)
income other than wages - yes/no (SSI SSDL state income supplements)
health insurance, if applicable (employer, Medicaid/Medicare, other)
current psychiatric diagnostic label
current treatment (e.g., take medication, use outpatient therapy once/week)
# psychiatric hospitalizations (lifetime)
total # weeks in psychiatric hospitals
ever been homeless
ever been in jail
presence of any other disabilities (self-identified)
presence of substance use disorders (self-identified)
highest education level completed
lifetime employment history (job titles, # months, type of firm)

Job Characteristics

current job title
job functions/responsibilities
supervisory responsibilities
current annual pay
benefits provided -yes/no (health insurance, life insurance, disability insurance, vacation days, sick leave, retirement, parking, etc.)
# hours/week & typical schedule
#months at current job

Disclosure

When did you tell your current employer that you had a disability? Who did you tell? How did you tell him/her? What did you say? How did it go? Do co-workers know that you have a disability? Do you find it beneficial to tell employers that you have a psychiatric disability:

a.   during the pre-employment/interview phase?
b.   once on the job?
c.   never?
What are your considerations?
Do you think people respond differently to you here because they know you have a disability? In what ways?

Accommodations

Discuss difference between symptoms and functioning.
How does your mental illness affect your functioning on the job?
Discuss definition of accommodation. What accommodation(s) do you get on the job?
How did this arrangement come about? When did it start?'
Were you aware that you had certain legal rights to accommodations at the time?
How has this arrangement changed over time? How do you expect it to change in the future?
Have you asked for and/or received accommodations in any previous jobs?

Work Satisfaction Questions

Overall, how well do you like your job?
What do you like best about your job? What do you like least about it?
How well do you get along with your co-workers?
What job do you hope to have next? Where do you see your career heading over the next 5 or 10 years?

Open-ended questions

If someone with a psychiatric disability were trying to decide whether or not to disclose, what would your advice to him/her be?
What advice would you give to a worker with a psychiatric disability regarding reasonable accommodations?
What advice would you give to a supervisor who's hiring someone with a psychiatric disability?

Awareness of ADA

How familiar are you with the ADA? For example, what can you tell me about the employment provisions?
What impact do you think the ADA will have?
Do you have any unanswered questions about the ADA now?
Anything else you'd like to discuss?

Wrap-Up Interview

Provide phone number and address in case interviewee wants further discussion.

Get address if he/she wants to receive a copy of the final report.