Wellbeing and job satisfaction among employees with intellectual disability

The workplace is one of the key settings in which to promote health and wellbeing. Reviews of workplace health promotion have shown that workplace interventions can positively impact on mental health, nutrition, and physical activity, and can impact positively on economic indicators such as absenteeism. 

This research explored the job satisfaction and wellbeing experiences of people with intellectual disability in the workplace and potential strategies for supporting their health and wellbeing through workplace interventions. 

The findings revealed that currently there is a strong emphasis on strategies such as mentoring and support, flexible approaches, and customised and varied roles to support mental wellbeing. There seems to be less focus on physical activity and nutrition with limited examples of strategies addressing these topics. There are also instances of bullying being experienced in open employment settings. Findings suggest workplace wellbeing intervention models and strategies for the general population may need to be modified to be inclusive of people with intellectual disability in both supported and open employment settings.