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Offering flexible working opportunities to people with mental disabilities: The missing link between sustainable development goals and financial implications

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  • Zoe Warmate
  • Mohamed Khaled Eldaly
  • Ahmed A. Elamer

Abstract

A global response to Covid‐19 pandemic has triggered issues related to stress and social restrictions; thus, mental health is seen as a particular area of concern for social well‐being for both policymakers and corporate regulators/companies. Given that mental health intersects with most, if not all, of the 17 sustainable development goals (SDGs), this research brought to light issues surrounding employment of people with mental disabilities (PWMDs) and the financial merits of employing them. An online survey was administered to PWMDs to elicit what possible flexible opportunities could enable them to gain or stay at work. Interviews were also conducted with human resource managers and financial managers. Our results show that there are currently no flexible working opportunities available for PWMDs, which could enable them work effectively to improve both self and general economic growth. The findings of this study will enable employers to explore the financial benefits of employing PWMDs and also aid the government to create better policies to boost employers' commitment to employing PWMDs and achieve some of the UN SDGs.

Suggested Citation

  • Zoe Warmate & Mohamed Khaled Eldaly & Ahmed A. Elamer, 2021. "Offering flexible working opportunities to people with mental disabilities: The missing link between sustainable development goals and financial implications," Business Strategy and the Environment, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 30(4), pages 1563-1579, May.
  • Handle: RePEc:bla:bstrat:v:30:y:2021:i:4:p:1563-1579
    DOI: 10.1002/bse.2694
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    3. Eleftherios Giovanis & Oznur Ozdamar, 2022. "Accommodating Employees with Impairments and Health Problems: The Role of Flexible Employment Schemes in Europe," Merits, MDPI, vol. 3(1), pages 1-26, December.
    4. Yifan Zhong & Yameng Li & Jian Ding & Yiyi Liao, 2021. "Risk Management: Exploring Emerging Human Resource Issues during the COVID-19 Pandemic," JRFM, MDPI, vol. 14(5), pages 1-23, May.
    5. Tantawy Moussa & Amir Allam & Mahmoud Elmarzouky, 2022. "Global modern slavery and sustainable development goals: Does institutional environment quality matter?," Business Strategy and the Environment, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 31(5), pages 2230-2244, July.
    6. María Garrido-Ruso & Beatriz Aibar-Guzmán & Albertina Paula Monteiro, 2022. "Businesses’ Role in the Fulfillment of the 2030 Agenda: A Bibliometric Analysis," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(14), pages 1-35, July.

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