A Mirror to ‘Normal’ Work – Ableism and the Construction of Flexjobs

This study examines the underlying norms and assumptions that organize work and the labor market, and their impact on the labor market participation of people with disabilities. We focus on the Danish case of ‘flexjobs,’ an employment program designed to include individuals with significant and permanent reductions in work ability. The flexjobs case serves as a mirror of ableist conceptions about work and the labor market. Our analysis draws on qualitative interviews with flexjob employees, employers, stakeholders, and municipal case workers. We investigate ableist assumptions within the legislative framework of flexjobs, its implementation, and the implications of ableism for employees in flexjob. The findings reveal that ableist notions of the ‘ideal worker’ and ‘normal’ work are prevalent in the construction and implementation of flexjobs. While the program succeeds in creating meaningful employment for workers with disabilities, it also confines them to ‘low-skilled’ tasks and offers fewer growth opportunities compared to their ‘normal’ colleagues. This raises important questions about workplace integration and the equal treatment of people with disabilities.