The Right to Work: Experiences of Employees with Rheumatism

This article describes and discusses the barriers to employment for people with reduced function. The context of the discussion is an assertion that the right to work includes the right and opportunity of all people to earn a living from freely chosen, paid work. However, despite recent Norwegian initiatives to create equal opportunities and social justice, the majority of people with a disability are excluded from working life. To explore how employed women (n=11) with reduced capacity due to rheumatism describe their experiences as employees, they were brought together for one of two focus group discussions. The results reveal that the barriers are caused by a poor match between personal capacity and work requirements, as well as by their managers' and colleagues' attitudes. Political initiatives and the economy also play an important role for inclusion of this group. An active focus on how social justice is shaped by policy makers, the role of employers and the ways companies manage diversity appears essential to achieving an inclusive working life.