Hiring people with disabilities helps ensure that a place of business remains diverse and benefits from the perspectives and backgrounds of a wide variety of people. However, the practice of hiring a diverse set of people can prove challenging. Fortunately, employers can (and should) structure their hiring process with disabled individuals in mind. Today, Markets Herald shares a few ways for employers to attract new employees who have differing abilities.
Maintain Good Employee Relationships
Maintaining a good relationship with employees is important for workers of all abilities. Some traits that a good boss should possess include:
- Providing clear and consistent feedback
- Asking employees how they are doing on a regular basis, in both their personal and professional lives
- Being supportive of workers regarding their projects and priorities
- Consistently setting clear expectations
These are just a few of the many guidelines that managers can use to maintain a good relationship with all of their employees. Current employees can be a good source when it comes to recruiting new workers.
Consider the Hiring Process
In addition to having a webpage that is accessible to all, hiring managers should ensure that the hiring process encourages individuals with disabilities to apply for jobs in other ways. For example, employers can create a document that denotes a few reasons why the company is a great option for people who have disabilities. This may come in the form of a PDF document, where creators can use a PDF editor to easily make changes to the piece if they decide to add or delete something. After the document is to their satisfaction, managers can download the piece and share it with potential workers.
Use Inclusive Language
The range of disabilities in the workplace includes conditions as varied as heart disease, depression, deafness, traumatic brain injury, and other things that affect mental and physical health. Because these conditions are so varied, it is necessary for workplaces to be inclusive of any and all disabilities. One way to cultivate inclusivity is to encourage the use of inclusive language. There are many ways to use inclusive language, such as:
- Using people-first phrases, for example, saying “a person who uses a wheelchair” rather than “a wheelchair user”
- Avoiding the use of offensive and outdated terminology
- Opting for terms that include not only people of all abilities, but races, ethnicities, and genders as well
Educating others about language can be a great step in the right direction toward making employees with disabilities feel seen and included.
Examine Technology
Another way that employers can help include those with disabilities, especially when hiring, is to ensure that the technology they use works with people who see and hear differently. Web pages should provide the ability to zoom in as well as include closed captioning on any videos on the page. Websites can also offer the option to view the site with fewer distractions, which can be helpful for some people who have attention deficit hyperactivity disorder.
Thinking Long Term
Obviously, for the good of all your employees, you also need to make sure your business is sustainable. That could mean taking greater advantage of marketing via social media, but it could also mean giving yourself an edge over other business leaders by going back to school. If you don’t already have a business degree, here’s a good option that’s sure to give you the additional know-how you need to succeed. Best of all, the flexibility of online programs means you can study at your own pace and implement the lessons you’ve learned in real time.
Implement Internship Opportunities
Because many people with disabilities are at a disadvantage in the hiring process, it can be advantageous for employers to create internship opportunities geared toward those with disabilities. By doing this, experts say that companies can attract talent from all people.
When employers hire those with disabilities, it greatly benefits the company because it can then utilize new and different points of view.
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