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As the country works to come back and companies pivot to adapt to the evolving challenges of COVID-19, small and medium-size businesses (SMBs) will play a key role in restarting our economy. Along with the revitalization of businesses, we are seeing a heightened sense of urgency to foster a more diverse and inclusive culture in the workplace.
The 30th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) is a great opportunity for businesses to review their recruiting and hiring practices to ensure that they are welcoming qualified persons with disabilities as an important step towards a more inclusive workplace culture.
There are numerous successful approaches that can be utilized by employers to not only confirm a company’s commitment to include qualified persons with disabilities, but to make those employees feel valued and respected.
A company that can effectively communicate and demonstrate their commitment to recruiting and hiring people with disabilities will find it easier to create an environment where such employees are welcomed. The Employer Assistance and Resource Network on Disability Inclusion or EARN, provides an example of this type of statement:
By voicing a company’s commitment to including qualified persons with disabilities, a business can take the first step to a more diverse culture.
It is relatively easy to become a company that gears itself towards attracting and hiring qualified persons with disabilities. EARN provides characteristics of companies that are welcoming to all types of workers.
By following some simple steps, any organization can be successful in attracting and retaining qualified candidates who happen to have a disability. These include:
In addition to creating an inclusive workforce, a plan to market, promote and/or modify your product or service to meet the needs of people with disabilities can be invaluable. Having properly trained staff or consultants on board to speak to the needs of people with disabilities can make this task easier.
"Making sure that people with disabilities are seen as full and equal employees often requires a change in the cultural values of organizations." The ADAhas played a large role in adjusting the values that businesses hold with regard to hiring, promoting and even marketing to qualified people with disabilities. Having the right HR partner can guide your organization to embrace diversity in all forms. In adjusting the business culture to embrace diversity and in attracting and hiring persons with disabilities, companies may find that all aspects of their organization become more inclusive and better able to take advantage of changes in the marketplace.
This communication is for informational purposes only; it is not legal, tax or accounting advice; and is not an offer to sell, buy or procure insurance.
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