In this blog: We explore 5 main reasons that show how hiring disabled employees can benefit business and look at case studies from companies in America who are making it a success.
We all agree that everyone has an equal right to employment.
For years, employers have maintained low expectations when it comes to hiring disabled employees. As a result, the workforce of disabled people is greatly underutilised. According to one statistic, there are currently 1.2 million disabled people in the UK who are available for and want to work.
Thankfully, due to spreading awareness about false perceptions regarding hiring disabled employees, this mindset is now changing readily.
Today, companies are highly interested in recruiting disabled people. This change in perception is not only favourable for disabled individuals but it is also beneficial for the employers. A study was carried out by Accenture in partnership with Disability:IN and the American Association of People with Disabilities. The study revealed that there are multiple benefits of recruiting disabled people. In fact, companies that are keen on hiring disabled employees tend to outperform others, with profit margin around 30% higher, net income 200% higher, and 28% higher revenues. These companies are also 4 times more likely to enjoy higher shareholder returns.
The statistics say it all. There is no doubt that disability inclusion is a way to take your business to the next level. If you are still wondering how disabled people can prove to be a valuable asset for your business, here are some reasons why you may want to start a recruitment drive for disabled people in your company. After reading these, check out Recruiting Disabled People in the Workplace.
1. High Work Quality after Hiring Disabled People
A study carried out by the Institute of Corporate Productivity shows that 3 out of 4 employers ranked disabled employees to be just as good as—or even better than—others in terms of work quality, attendance and motivation. Most leading companies understand the importance and advantages of hiring disabled employees.
Like most employees, a job means a great deal for a disabled person. This is mainly because of the fact that there are relativelylimited employment opportunities. So, if you recruit disabled people, they are more likely to be highly motivated to prove valuable to the company. This translates into equal or better work performance as compared to other employees.
2. Improved Corporate Culture
Carlos Slim, a gigantic business magnate and one of the richest men in the world hires disabled people. He shared in an interview with The Wall Street Journal:
“I know disabled employees are very dedicated workers and they are good for the morale of all of the company.”
Most employers second this opinion, especially those who already have disabled people employed in their companies. This is mainly because by providing employment opportunities to disabled people, you are adding highly motivated professionals to your team. This promotes a sense of inclusiveness in the workplace which improves the overall quality of the culture. In other words, welcoming disabled employees to your workforce is another way of improving job morale. The employees develop a more empathetic behaviour towards each other and even towards your customer. This reflects positively on their performance and as a result the company’s productivity increases.
3. Lower Employee Turnover
Disabled employees are more likely to stick around a company for a long time. This means that the funds you spend on the recruiting process and training are less likely to go to waste. This is partly due to the fact that disabled people face certain difficulties when it comes to job searching. Apart from that, disabled employees are more likely than other candidates to seek job stability.
4. A Wider Talent Pool
According to the Labour Force Survey ‘05, around one in every five people of working age (6.9 million, or 19%) in Great Britain is disabled. This means inviting disabled people to join your workforce will only give you access to a wider talent pool. It is better for your business, in the long run, to recruit highly talented and motivated disabled employees instead of hiring people who are relatively less talented and potentially less motivated. It is important to recognise that companies today are at war for talent and qualified workers. In today’s tight economies, every business wants the best employees and it doesn’t make sense to leave out a perfectly relevant and deserving group of people. Listen to what disabled people say about the workplace on the podcast.
According to an employment counsellor at the Monmouth County Office of Workforce Development:
“One of the trends to look for in 2019 to 2024 from all employers is training staff they already have, and thinking outside their normal box. That includes recruiting and hiring disabled people…groups that normally have some type of stigma. In this very tight economy, employers have to be competitive.”
5. Prioritise Awareness
Limited employment opportunities for disabled people who are otherwise fit for the job is a dilemma. It is affecting our society in multiple ways. The way to provide equal job opportunities to all deserving candidates is to create awareness. You can play your part by prioritising awareness and creating vacancies in your company for disabled people. Simultaneously, you can set real-life examples for other businesses by reaping multiple benefits that come with welcoming disabled employees to your workforce.
Therefore, as a way of creating awareness, many companies in America celebrate National Disability Employment Awareness Month. This not only improves their public image but is also a way to send a powerful message to other businesses in all sectors.
An Exemplary Case of Hiring Disabled Employees
Did you know that Microsoft created an exemplary recruitment program for disabled people? The recruitment drive was specially directed towards autistic people. The best part is that the program was not only focused on recruiting disabled people but special attention was also paid on training. Microsoft took coaching initiatives to make sure their disabled employees couldperform to their full potential.
This goes on to show that providing job opportunities to disabled people will only work positively for your business. Moreover, you will be able to play your part in building a community that isn’t biased and allows everyone to participate in society. All of us deserve to be valued and it’s time we celebrate our differences!
Disability Inclusion Bites is a weekly email series offering guidance and expert knowledge on creating that disability inclusion culture within your workplace. To start receiving emails, sign up here
Esi (rhymes with messy) set up Celebrating Disability in 2017; offering training, consulting and auditing to support businesses attract, engage and retain disabled people. Having the opportunity to support businesses to see the wealth of benefits that disabled people can bring to business, either as customers or employees is a privilege. She is passionate about disability equality and inclusion and loves nothing more than that “Ah ha” moment with a client when they see what disability equality and inclusion can do for them.
