Summary
It's smart for businesses to hire people with disabilities because it creates a stronger talent pool. To do this, companies should follow some best practices for attracting employees with disabilities. By doing these things, businesses can find more skilled workers they might have missed before.
Welcome to this series of posts on Making Work Accessible! I’m so excited to share this deeper dive into accessibility at work, based on some content from a recent webinar and presentation. We’re going to explore the phases of the employee life cycle: Attraction, Recruitment, Onboarding, Development, and Retention. I’ll share some accessibility and inclusion best practices in each of these areas, and also include a related benefit of disability inclusion.
In HR, “attraction” refers to the process of enticing qualified candidates to apply for job openings within an organization. What does that look like for people with disabilities?
Attracting Employees with Disabilities
Attraction Best Practices
- Use accessible job application software or provide alternate formats
- Write job descriptions in clear, concise language and explain special terminology
- Include disability representation on website and in marketing materials
- Include disability language in your Diversity & Inclusion statements
- Diversify where you are posting the jobs – include different job boards and agencies
- Invite candidates to request accommodations as needed, either through a statement in the job advertisement or follow-up email
- Consider physical requirements in job descriptions (lift XX weight, stand, reach)
- Promote flex/remote work as a candidate attraction tool
Attraction Business Benefit
Stronger Talent Pool: Businesses that embrace disability inclusion gain access to a wider range of qualified candidates. By focusing on skills over stereotypes, they tap into a valuable talent pool that might otherwise be overlooked.
How Do I Do This?
I’d love for you to get in touch to chat about how I may be able to help you implement these best practices!
Sources and Further Reading
- Employer Assistance and Resource Network on Disability: Finding Candidates with Disabilities
- Disability:IN ERG/BRG Toolkit: Workforce: Talent/Employees
- Easter Seals Arkansas: 5 Recruitment Tips To Attract People With Disabilities
- InclusionHub: How to Recruit Professionals With Disabilities to Your Company (& Retain Them)
In Summary
It's smart for businesses to hire people with disabilities because it creates a stronger talent pool. To do this, companies should follow some best practices for attracting employees with disabilities. By doing these things, businesses can find more skilled workers they might have missed before.