Three Dilemmas of Disabled Employee Voice

Journal of Business Ethics · 2025 · Volume 201 · Issue 4

Abstract

We conceptualize the phenomenon ofdisabled employee voiceto make a case for how disabled employees are systematically prevented from speaking out. Most research on employee voice supposes that the decision for and process of speaking out is similar across employees. We expose that the often inherent (dis-)ableism in organizations imposes three voice dilemmas on disabled employees, adding an additional layer of obstructions to their voice. Thefirst dilemma around disabled employees’ voicer identityevolves because disabled employees systematically have less power and a lower status due to ableist hierarchies in organizations. Thesecond dilemma around voice designarises because disabled employees systematically lack access to suitable voice opportunities because voice structures, procedures, and processes disregard their (dis-)abilities, needs, and preferences. Thethird dilemma around voice purposeemerges because disabled employees may want and need to advocate for disability rights and, in turn, promote voice content that does not align with their organizations’ interests. Consequently, disabled employee voice provides a better understanding of their disadvantageous voice experiences and points to the laborious practices disabled employees need to engage in to speak out. In addition, we discuss how organizational leaders and policymakers can become responsible for combating the lack of disabled employees’ voices in organizations.

Keywords

Employee voice, Disabilities, Disabled employees, Ableism, Voice dilemmas, Voice policy

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