Opportunities for All: How Business Benefits From a Diverse Workforce
The above picture is of a number of blocks. Each with a different symbol of disability.
Opportunities for All: How Business Benefits From a Diverse Workforce
When you hire
disabled individuals in your business, you’re both opening yourself up to a
rich pool of talent while also lending a hand to individuals who are sometimes
limited in, or discriminated against when it comes to employment opportunities.
There are many advantages of hiring a diverse workforce, including a boost in
employee engagement, increased innovation, and improved interpersonal
relationships.
In addition to
providing gainful work, disABLEDperson.com suggests a number of other
ways you can help employees reach their peak potential.
Recognize All Disabilities
While some
disabilities are easy to discern – for example, if someone utilizes a
wheelchair, it's apparent – others are invisible, as Disabled World points
out. For example, chronic pain, autoimmune diseases, autism spectrum disorders,
and heart problems can all present workplace challenges for those who have
them. Educating yourself and your other employees about this fact can help
reduce the potential for conflict, misunderstanding, and even bullying
behaviors.
You may also need
to occasionally defend a disabled person to a client or customer if they are
discriminated against or harassed. Especially for people with disabilities,
working remotely can often be an ideal situation.
Make Accommodations
Some types of disabilities require special accommodations in the
workplace. For example, someone with severe arthritis might not be
able to stand for long periods of time or lift heavy objects; someone with
vision problems may require special lighting, a magnified computer screen, or
the assistance of braille. Other disabilities may require alternative or hybrid
work schedules, or work-from-home options.
Consult with your
workers to provide them with what they need to do their jobs safely,
comfortably, and effectively. According to the Equal Employment Opportunity
Commission, there are a number of guidelines and resources available to help
you help employees, and ensure compliance with the law.
One of the
obstacles many businesses face is the practical side of accessibility. Usually, entrances are accessible these days, as well as public restrooms, but there are
often issues elsewhere in the facility. Focus on improving restroom and kitchen
areas, and plumbing projects is a pretty straightforward task for commercial plumbers.
Help Promote Acceptance
Train your
employees on best practices around how to work with or provide service to
disabled individuals. There are misconceptions about various types of ailments,
and by providing authoritative information from credible sources, you can help
promote understanding and acceptance and reduce discrimination.
SHRM notes that the
Americans With Disabilities Act has tools and resources that can help you provide guidance
on things that are important not to say, like, “What kind of accident did you
have?” or, “You don’t look disabled to me.” These interactions can be both
painful and embarrassing for disabled individuals and don’t have a place in
modern workplaces.
Provide Support
Encourage your
disabled staff to come to you if they have special needs, questions, or
concerns. For example, someone may need to be at a desk or cubicle closer to
restroom facilities, require help with transporting meeting materials, or
perform better with special lighting or office equipment.
You may also need
to retrofit some common spaces, like breakrooms, conference areas, and access
to office equipment. Appropriate parking, entrance ways, and removal of
barriers that prevent navigation are also important. Making all efforts to provide support will help ensure
everyone’s success while giving you the benefit of having an inclusive and
diversified workplace.
Offer Continuing Education Opportunities
All of your
employees can benefit greatly from professional development and continuing education opportunities. In
addition to allowing workers time to attend conferences, participate in
training seminars, or take time away from the office to attend classes, also
consider offering tuition reimbursement. Students who take online classes can
typically work at their own pace from the location of their choosing. Offering
this kind of perk can help you attract and retain exceptional employees.
Hiring disabled
individuals provides you access to a skilled and talented workforce that can
bring fresh new perspectives and enhance your corporate culture. You might also
benefit from certain types of tax credits.
Keep yourself open to the possibilities that come with creating a highly
diverse workplace.
If
you’re in need of a job board geared for employing the disabled, disABLEDperson.com has you covered. Contact us for more info
today! (760) 420-1269
In addition to providing gainful work, disABLEDperson.com suggests a number of other ways you can help employees reach their peak potential.
Recognize All Disabilities
While some disabilities are easy to discern – for example, if someone utilizes a wheelchair, it's apparent – others are invisible, as Disabled World points out. For example, chronic pain, autoimmune diseases, autism spectrum disorders, and heart problems can all present workplace challenges for those who have them. Educating yourself and your other employees about this fact can help reduce the potential for conflict, misunderstanding, and even bullying behaviors.
You may also need to occasionally defend a disabled person to a client or customer if they are discriminated against or harassed. Especially for people with disabilities, working remotely can often be an ideal situation.
Make Accommodations
Some types of disabilities require special accommodations in the workplace. For example, someone with severe arthritis might not be able to stand for long periods of time or lift heavy objects; someone with vision problems may require special lighting, a magnified computer screen, or the assistance of braille. Other disabilities may require alternative or hybrid work schedules, or work-from-home options.
Consult with your workers to provide them with what they need to do their jobs safely, comfortably, and effectively. According to the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, there are a number of guidelines and resources available to help you help employees, and ensure compliance with the law.
One of the obstacles many businesses face is the practical side of accessibility. Usually, entrances are accessible these days, as well as public restrooms, but there are often issues elsewhere in the facility. Focus on improving restroom and kitchen areas, and plumbing projects is a pretty straightforward task for commercial plumbers.
Help Promote Acceptance
Train your employees on best practices around how to work with or provide service to disabled individuals. There are misconceptions about various types of ailments, and by providing authoritative information from credible sources, you can help promote understanding and acceptance and reduce discrimination.
SHRM notes that the Americans With Disabilities Act has tools and resources that can help you provide guidance on things that are important not to say, like, “What kind of accident did you have?” or, “You don’t look disabled to me.” These interactions can be both painful and embarrassing for disabled individuals and don’t have a place in modern workplaces.
Provide Support
Encourage your disabled staff to come to you if they have special needs, questions, or concerns. For example, someone may need to be at a desk or cubicle closer to restroom facilities, require help with transporting meeting materials, or perform better with special lighting or office equipment.
You may also need to retrofit some common spaces, like breakrooms, conference areas, and access to office equipment. Appropriate parking, entrance ways, and removal of barriers that prevent navigation are also important. Making all efforts to provide support will help ensure everyone’s success while giving you the benefit of having an inclusive and diversified workplace.
Offer Continuing Education Opportunities
All of your employees can benefit greatly from professional development and continuing education opportunities. In addition to allowing workers time to attend conferences, participate in training seminars, or take time away from the office to attend classes, also consider offering tuition reimbursement. Students who take online classes can typically work at their own pace from the location of their choosing. Offering this kind of perk can help you attract and retain exceptional employees.
Hiring disabled individuals provides you access to a skilled and talented workforce that can bring fresh new perspectives and enhance your corporate culture. You might also benefit from certain types of tax credits. Keep yourself open to the possibilities that come with creating a highly diverse workplace.
If you’re in need of a job board geared for employing the disabled, disABLEDperson.com has you covered. Contact us for more info today! (760) 420-1269