LOCAL CULTURE
Hire with Career Connections.
The business case for hiring people living with a disability. BY LISA CRESS PHOTOS BY STUDIO 78
How accessible is your workplace? How diverse is your staff roster? If you are not hiring with diversity and inclusion in mind, your organization is missing out on significant benefits and advantages. Workers with disabilities are productive employees. However, an organization’s protocols or practices can unintentionally exclude them from the workforce. Research has shown that when an organization invests in accommodating a wide variety of people, it benefits their workplace culture, bottom line, customer reach, employees and the community.
“We all have skills. The only difference is that these folks are lacking the same opportunities to use them.” Thousands of individuals living with a disability are unemployed but have the potential to work. When these individuals do find work, they bring countless benefits to their employer.
In short, workplace inclusion is just good for business.
“It’s really a positive cycle,” explains Williams. “Not only do you see a reduction of absenteeism and a stronger workforce, but other employees in the organization become more accepting of people who are different from them.”
“People with disabilities are just like you and I,” says Tracy Williams, Executive Director, Career Connections.
Other benefits include a better company image, increased productivity and lower staff turnover.
L-R WILLIAM WATSON, BRENDAN COUTU
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