At Job One, we envision a world where people with disabilities play an active role in the workforce. That’s why we’ve made it our mission to build skills and connections that create employment opportunities for people with disabilities. As CEO, I’ve witnessed firsthand the positive and powerful relationship between diversity, inclusion and business performance. Adults with disabilities want to work––and they should! With 56 million people in America with disabilities and a staggering 84% of them unemployed, there’s a large labor force that is being completely ignored.
Consider these 5 advantages of hiring adults with disabilities:
1.) Reliability
Adults with disabilities have an overall higher retention rate, take less days off and are more likely to stay at a job longer compared to non-disabled people, according to multiple studies. This fact alone can greatly reduce the high costs of employee turnover. A study by SHRM, found that every time a business replaces a salaried employee, it costs the company approximately 6-9 months’ salary for that role!
2.) Lower work-related accidents
According to a study from the Department of Labor, employees with disabilities have a higher performance in the area of safety than their counterparts without disabilities. In other words, workers with disabilities more conscientious and concerned about general safety and best practices for safety in the workplace.
3.) Tax incentives
Companies that hire adults with disabilities may be eligible for certain tax credits. These credits help businesses cover costs like purchasing special equipment or building modifications to make the work environment more accessible. You can learn more about the different types of tax credits and eligibility requirements on this page from the IRS.
4.) Increased diversity in the workplace
By hiring a person with a disability at your company, you are helping foster diversity in the workforce. When non-disabled employees begin to work alongside employees with disabilities, the individuals without disabilities become more aware of how to make the workforce (and other social settings) more inclusive. The employees with disabilities will also teach your other employees how to be more creative problem solvers!
5.) People with disabilities are capable!
Like everyone else, adults with disabilities are qualified to be active members in the workforce. Unfortunately, many employers let stereotypes and misinformation stop them from making those hires. While many adaptive techniques and devices make it even easier for adults with disabilities to work, it’s their positive attitude, great work ethic, and company loyalty that truly makes them the ideal employees!
Bottom line: adults with disabilities are a benefit to companies and the workforce in general. I hope in the future your company will consider all the options to see the capabilities (and opportunities) when hiring––if it isn’t already!
To learn more about hiring adults with disabilities, go to https://www.jobonekc.org/employment-services-3/.
Statistics provided by the US Department of Labor.