Appendix II: Guidelines for Employer Interview on Reasonable Accommodations

Prepared by Laura L Mancuso

Introductory Discussion

Describe purpose and scope of study and 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 Supervisor

Workplace/Supervisor characteristics

size of organization (# employees, annual budget or revenue)
supervisor's job title, functions/responsibilities, # people supervised
any formal policy or awareness training to guide managers?
rate of turnover at this site (especially in worker's job category)
# months/years in your position
# months/years with this organization
highest educational level completed
any previous experience supervising someone with mental illness
any previous experience supervising someone with a disability
any personal experience/contact with a person with a mental illness (family, friends, colleagues, fellow students, etc.)

Characteristics of Worker's Position

Current job title
job functions/responsibilities (incl. any supervisory responsibilities)
benefits provided - health insurance, life insurance, disability insurance, vacation days, sick leave, retirement, parking, etc.)
# hours/week & typical schedule
# months at current job

Accommodations

When did you learn that this worker had a disability? What were you told? By whom? What was your reaction at the time?

From your perspective, how does the worker's mental illness impact on his/her functioning on the job?
Discuss definition of accommodation. What accommodations does the worker get?
How did the idea of an accommodation first arise?
As supervisor, what steps did you have to take to: ... determine what accommodation would be helpful to the worker? ...gain approval from your organization to implement the accommodation?
To what extent did you make the accommodation because you were legally obligated to?
How do other employees react to the accommodation?
How satisfied are you with the current arrangement? How do you expect it to change over time?
How does this worker compare to others in similar job categories with respect to: reliability? productivity? # days absent? getting along with others?

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?

Open-ended questions

What advice would you give to a supervisor who's hiring a person with a psychiatric disability?
What advice would you give to workers with psychiatric disabilities with respect to developing workplace accommodations?
Is there anything you've learned about supervising workers with psychiatric disabilities that you wish you'd been told earlier?
Do you have any unanswered questions about people with psychiatric disabilities now?
Anything else you'd like to discuss?

Wrap-Up Interview