Disability is still a barrier to finding a job in France in 2020: people in this situation have an unemployment rate twice as high as in the rest of the working population - 16% against 8% -, according to recently published data by Pôle Emploi.
In question, difficulties of accessibility in the companies, a lower level of qualification… and persistent discriminations, like those of which Camille was victim on several occasions this last year, during two interviews of employment.
At 40, this man has been living for ten years with neuropathy, "an invisible disability that causes recurrent pain in the lower and upper limbs, sometimes even paralysis," he explains.
This earned him professionally a Recognition of the quality of disabled worker (RQTH), which allows him to benefit in particular from mechanisms for professional integration or even scheduling.
"But what do you mean, he's disabled?"
Camille has worked for several years near Nantes (Loire-Atlantique) for a private company, where he is in charge of disputes and collections.
In October 2019, he found a "very interesting" position in another company.
He is applying;
the first interview with the site manager "went well, without worry and in a climate of trust", he says.
A few days later, a second interview, this time with the Parisian director of the company and the director of human resources.
A "courteous" video exchange of almost an hour before the employer asks - and understands - the meaning of the RQTH mention on Camille's CV.
"There, his face changed completely, I saw a tension, remembers Camille. Then he said to the HRD: 'What? But what do you mean by a disabled person?'
The HRD asked me to wait a few minutes, the time to have an aside discussion with the director. But they had not cut their microphone… And I heard the exchange continue: 'No, but that's not okay. no, I'm not going to take a Mongolian, do you think we don't have enough morons in the company? '
I then ended the discussion, I was not there to be insulted ".
Camille retains a "hurtful" memory from this episode.
At the time, he even came to feel guilty, thinking "he had made a mistake": "I said to myself: 'Why did I put RQTH on my CV'? not that I'm hiding that I was disabled, since it's a brake? "
An employer who "wanted 'his' disabled"
The 40-year-old did not know it yet, but he was going to relive this discriminating experience in a job interview a second time, a few months later, in a different style.
In July 2020, he applied for another job offer.
The employer is very interested in his profile, to the point of offering him an interview before the end of the application deadline.
"In less than five minutes, we talk about my RQTH. I remain on my guard with my previous bad experience, remembers Camille. And there, the employer said to me: 'Ah but don't worry: I love them. disabled, I don't have one in my box and I would like to have one '".
The candidate tries to refocus the discussion on his skills, but the employer opposite him only thinks about his RQTH status.
"Him, he was blocked, he wanted 'his' disabled, sums up Camille. In his speech it was' when I eat with my managerial buddies, they all have one in their company, while I don't have one. '. I wanted to answer him:' I don't care, we are not at a dinner party '. "
A few days later, the company's HRD called him back.
Camille refuses the position
,
because it does not serve as a "stooge".
But the story does not stop there: "They tried everything to the end to recruit my disability, even an outbid of 300 euros on the initial salary proposal," he says.
"Frankly, it hurts: I am 40 years old, I have diplomas, I have almost always worked, and the only value that people recognize in me is to be disabled".
"Another fear in business of people with disabilities"
These two examples of discrimination in hiring make Camille say that there is still today "a problem of mentality" in the way of approaching disability in business.
He has the impression that people "of a certain age" occupying positions of responsibility "still have a priori".
According to him, "they are still afraid of people with disabilities, they think we are going to cost them dearly and that we are not going to be profitable."
In her current company, Camille can count on her employer and her colleagues who "recognize (s) his professional qualities".
When he has health concerns, he also feels "kindness" from them and "good intelligence" to adapt his pace of work if necessary.
A professional situation ultimately "rather healthy", recognizes Camille.
He still continues to prospect, keeps an eye on job offers from other companies.
Hoping that his next candidacy does not rhyme with discrimination.
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