| Of a target number of two hundred seventy-eight participants, one hundred ninety-one human resource personnel and business executives from the Top 100 Companies for 2001 in Houston, Texas, completed an internet based questionnaire asking them to rank employment suitability perceptions of people with mental health challenges (PMHCs). Potential participants were contacted via an introductory letter explaining the study. The letter was sent to the Human Resource Department of each company. After an interview with potential participants, each selected participant was given access to the website. In addition to ranking employment suitability, participants were also asked to rank perceived concerns for employment in the context of various service positions and to rank levels of “likability” for persons with specific mental health challenges. Once the questionnaire was completed, the results were automatically calculated and sent to the researcher. Data analysis reflected a tendency of employers to limit employment opportunities to Fundamental Service Positions, representing traditionally low-level positions with the least amount of financial compensation. Results suggest that the basis for the perceptions by employers were apprehensions of the PMHC's reliability and rationality as opposed to a fear of their violence and competence. Based on the results, suggestions for employment opportunity improvements and anti-stigma education are presented, as well as recommendations for further research. |
