Findings of most extensive employer survey ever on people with disabilities
released by U.S. Labor Department's Office of Disability Employment Policy
Agency also makes available 'business case' on value of employees with disabilities
WASHINGTON - The U.S. Department of Labor's Office of Disability Employment
Policy (ODEP) today released findings of the most extensive survey in history of employers' actions and attitudes toward employing people with disabilities. The report is available at:
CESSI, a division of Axiom Resource Management Inc., conducted the survey of 3,797 companies, which statistically represent more than 2.4 million
companies nationwide. This survey found that a majority of large businesses
are hiring people with disabilities and discovering that costs for
accommodations differ very little from those for the general employee
population. Additionally, the survey showed that once an employer hires one
person with a disability, it is much more likely that employer will hire other people with disabilities.
ODEP Assistant Secretary Neil Romano hailed the report. "This research shows
us the pathway for workers with disabilities to enter and succeed in the
workplace," he said. "Employers consistently discover that hiring and
retaining people with disabilities helps their bottom line, and our efforts
at the Department of Labor to educate businesses on this fact are paying off
for workers."
The survey does provide some disappointing news in that it reveals some resistance among businesses to viewing people with disabilities as able to
advance up the corporate ladder.
"While in many cases the front door has begun to open for people with
disabilities seeking employment, unfortunately, all too often a glass
ceiling still keeps these valuable employees in lower level positions,"
Romano commented.
In partnership with The Conference Board Inc., ODEP will present major
findings of this report via web cast on Feb. 18 from 11 a.m. to noon EST during the program "Are New Recruits Ready to Work?" This web cast will be
open to the public and is part of the larger series "Maximizing Human
Capital: Employees with Disabilities." To register, contact The Conference
Board at 212-339-0345
.
James Morton
1 comment:
This is heartening news. Alas, with the unemployment rate rising, it'll be an employer's advantage in the labour market for a good while to come. Which does not bode well for people who are already disadvantaged in said market.
The only light on the horizon is our aging population, particularly in BC.
I'd like to work, not so much for the money but to get me doing something other than reading and writing on this computer most hours of the day. But in this community, retail is virtually the only game. Which means being able to stand for long hours and/or reach, bend, etc.
Sigh...
Post a Comment