HUMAN RESOURCES
Four Ways Disability Inclusion is the Right Business Decision
There ’ s more to disability inclusion than following the laws .
By Jeremy Einbinder Contributing Editor
It ’ s no secret that people with disabilities face challenges in their everyday life . One of the ways in which they are disadvantaged is in the workplace . It doesn ’ t have to be like this . People with disabilities can live with dignity , they can have jobs and contribute to their communities in helpful and substantial ways . Obviously , disability inclusion is good for people with disabilities , but companies need to know that it ’ s good for business , too . Here ’ s how :
Never miss out on unique and qualified candidates .
One of the most common objections to policies in the vein of affirmative action is that an employer or a company should simply hire the “ best candidate ” and not pay attention to any demographic factors . This is a flawed policy for many reasons , but perhaps most obvious is the unconscious bias of the employer or hiring management team .
Hiring executives may be unfamiliar with the nuances of disability and assume the most qualified candidates for any given position are able-bodied , neurotypical folks like themselves . Diversity Equity & Inclusion initiatives have become important for so many companies . Part of that effort needs to include disabled individuals .
There is a tendency in even the most well-meaning people with a decent amount of comfort and privilege to treat people with disabilities as separate from other members of the community , as charity cases . The most qualified candidate for a job may well be a disabled person . A company would not want to miss the opportunity to find someone who could go above and beyond on the job .
Increase worker productivity and innovation .
There are many ways that businesses must comply with all the regulations in the Americans with Disabilities Act , but there ’ s more to disability inclusion than following all the technicalities of the law . Proactively making an effort to be inclusive has a noticeable positive impact on employees , customers and community members .
Corporate Executive Board ( CEB ), now part of Gartner , conducted a study which found that organizations that made an effort to be actively inclusive had a 26 percent increase in team collaboration and an 18 percent increase in team commitment . A study by Harvard Business Review showed that companies with higher-than-average diversity had 19 percent higher innovation revenues . This shows that hiring people with disabilities is not only a benefit to the individuals themselves , but also their coworkers and the company as a whole .
Encourage candidates with disabilities to see your company as one worth pursuing .
If accommodations are in place prior to a new hire with disabilities having to request them , it makes a new hire feel welcome , comfortable and safe . It also can easily lead to prospective employees with disabilities being more likely to apply . On the other hand , failing to provide accommodations could have businesses missing out on a whole host of qualified candidates who won ’ t bother applying . Thankfully , accommodations are doable , so this is easily resolved . Could braille be printed on any buttons or signs ? Can
you move furniture to make space for a wheelchair ? Is all online presence digitally accessible ? These are all things to consider . According to the U . S . Department of Labor Statistics , most workplace accommodations cost less than $ 500 , while nearly a quarter cost “ nothing at all .” Accommodations for disabled people , especially ones that cost little to no money , should simply be part of the way a business is structured .
Encourage healthy and open communication between workers and management .
Even beyond strictly the context of accommodating specifically for people with disabilities , an inclusive environment allows all workers to know that a company is willing to respond to the needs of its employees . Is someone confused or overwhelmed by something ? Has someone found a different , more efficient way to complete a project ? Did someone spot a problem that management didn ’ t think of ? Aiming in advance to be an inclusive environment for all , including disabled people encourages this sort of dialogue between workers and management that can lead to better , less contentious outcomes for everyone .
Ultimately , what is better for disabled workers benefits everyone . Even if an aspect of working life is not formally codified as an accommodation , it helps knowing that fostering a willing and inclusive environment is a company philosophy . If you want your company to succeed , it is in your best interest to accommodate disabled people in the workplace .
Jeremy Einbinder is a freelance writer specializing in disability advocacy .
If you want your company to succeed , it is in your best interest to accommodate disabled people in the workplace .
Photo : Getty Images / iStockphoto / AndreyPopov
Photo : Getty Images / iStockphoto / Edwin Tan
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