Bendigo Regional HR Network
The Benefits of Employing Someone with a Disability
- Are you committed to equal opportunities? – 77% of the public think more highly of companies who make an effort to employ people with a disability (Charity Awareness Monitor UK 2004)
- Do you lack first- hand knowledge to reach you disabled customer base (approx.. 20% of the population?
- Would your managers benefit from the challenge of supporting a diverse team? Employing someone with a disability will give your managers and other key staff an opportunity to step up
- Does your team lack morale? Is there a high rate of sickness? – many people with a learning disability have been excluded from the workplace for a long time, and are very keen to work hard. Their enthusiasm is infectious. Team dynamics and overall performance have been shown to improve as a result of employing someone with a learning disability
- Do you have trouble recruiting for certain positions or tasks? – these positions or jobs may be ideal for someone with a learning disability
- Do you need to recruit and retain loyal, hard-working staff? There is evidence to support the fact that people with a learning disability stay with one employer for a longer time, and take less sickies. They also have less work injuries and as a consequence lost time. Costs to business are as low as 34% of the non disabled work force
Types of Jobs
- In an office or admin setting – compiling files or information packs, sending out the post, photocopying, labelling envelopes, answering phones and taking messages, running errands, including a lunch run or coffee run, stock (paper/pens, etc) distribution
- In a retail setting – stock replenishment, helping shoppers find goods, facing up stock, pricing goods, warehouse, stock control
What sort of assistance is available to employers?
(via the Employment Assistance Fund 1800 464 800 – www.jobaccess.gov.au)
- The costs of modifications to the physical work environment
- The costs of modifying work vehicles
- Adaptive equipment for the workplace
- Information and communication devices
- Auslan interpreting
- Disability awareness training for all staff
- Deafness awareness training for all staff
- Mental health first aid training for all staff
- Specialist services for employees with specific learning disorders and mental health conditions.
- On the job or off site support to ensure new employees with a disability settle into their job
- Professional recruitment advice and job matching
- Help with job design
- Ongoing support for as long as it is required, for employees and employers who require support to maintain their employment
You may also find this site helpful – www.jobsearch.gov.au
