Expand your workforce
By Stacey Stingley, LEAP Employment Services
The Employers Resource Council (ERC), with Crain’s Cleveland Business, recently released the results from its annual survey of 111 Northeast Ohio area organizations. The 2018 results showed a large increase in the number of respondents who say their biggest challenge is “hiring and retention of talent.”
Throughout the survey, the results show several new initiatives to help source skilled workers, from a huge jump in social media use to developing internships and internal management training. The survey discussed traditional incentives, including retirement and health care plans, as well as expanded incentives such as flex-time and pet insurance.
What the results of the survey didn’t indicate was that companies were implementing new approaches to diversity and inclusion in order to tap suitable job candidates. While the overall unemployment rate is about four percent nationally, persons with a disability face an unemployment rate of 10 percent.
Candidates with disabilities are often excluded from hiring initiatives due to cost fears and assumptive biases about abilities and safety.
But according to Job Accommodation Network’s research from 2004-2017, data has consistently shown that the benefits of becoming ADA compliant and providing workplace accommodations far outweigh the costs. Roughly 59 percent of respondents reported that accommodations cost nothing, with the rest reporting around $500, and 90 percent said an accommodation helped “retain a valued employee.”
In addition, it indirectly improved overall company productivity by 56 percent and profitability by 27 percent.
Job candidates with disabilities are eager to be employed. They comprise a loyal workforce who can bring unique ideas and perspectives. Amid the nation’s tightest job market in 50 years, your organization can’t afford to ignore this skilled but untapped workforce.
For more information contact LEAP Employment Services at 216-696-2716 or employmentservices@leapinfo.org.