Hiring people with disabilities is good for business, the economy and your team’s morale.
People with disabilities have long been excluded from or underrepresented in the workforce based on low expectations and preconceived notions about their capabilities.
The signing of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) by President George H.W. Bush in 1990 opened the doors for inclusion and employment for millions of people with disabilities, but a culture of stigma and misunderstanding has pervaded, especially when it comes to employment.
In the last decade, however, there has been a significant increase in conversation and activism concerning fair representation and equal opportunity for people with disabilities in the workforce. The working world is changing for the better as a result – and not just in terms of inclusion.
Benefits of hiring people with disabilities
There are several reasons why you should consider hiring people with disabilities at your company. These job seekers can benefit your business in many ways.
It can increase your profit margin.
A 2018 study by Accenture in partnership with the American Association of People with Disabilities and Disability:IN reports that businesses that actively seek to employ people with disabilities outperform businesses that do not. Their revenues were 28% higher, net income was two times more, and profit margins were higher by 30%. Additionally, the Department of Labor found that employers who embraced disability saw a 90% increase in employee retention.
It diversifies your company culture.
The value that disabled workers can bring to the workplace goes far beyond numbers. Their unique perspectives help to create diverse company cultures and improve innovation.
“Hiring people with disabilities is a win for everyone involved,” Mary Dale Walters, senior vice president of strategic communications at Allsup, told business.com. “Those with disabilities often look at business problems differently and bring innovative thinking to new products and customer service.”
It increases employee motivation and reduces turnover rates.
Aside from the financial and economic gains, hiring people with disabilities has a positive effect on factors such as absenteeism and motivation. The Accenture study highlights six main areas of “inclusion incentives” – increased innovation, improved shareholder value, improved productivity, access to the supplier ecosystem, improved market share and enhanced reputation.
“Individuals with disabilities can bring innovative thinking, a unique perspective, and other talents that can help businesses be more productive and competitive,” said Walters.
Companies that focus on diverse hiring also see lower turnover, as their employees feel greater loyalty to the company and a positive connection to its business practices.
There is a vast, untapped market.
There is a striking disparity between the current American labor market and the employment status of people with disabilities. According to the Accenture study, only 29% of Americans with a disability between the ages of 16 and 64 were employed, compared with 75% of Americans without a disability in the same age bracket.
If American companies were to actively participate in hiring people with disabilities, they would have access to a talent pool of more than 10.7 million people with diverse strengths, leadership styles and ways of thinking. The study also reports that the GDP could see a boost of nearly $25 billion if just 1% more people with disabilities joined the workforce.
To read more: https://www.business.com/articles/hire-disabled-people/