To accommodate hiring people with disabilities requires the same accommodations as hiring anyone
CBC Communications | Posted: October 11, 2022 5:35 PM | Last Updated: October 11, 2022
Intentful communication is everything in a work environment
October is Disability Employment Awareness Month (DEAM). To help spread awareness, CBC Calgary is highlighting stories from self-advocates and inclusive employers. Learn more at cbc.ca/mycalgary.
This is an email interview with Holly Singer, who owns the Milk Jar Candle Company, where 25 per cent of the office consists of people with disabilities. Through candle sales, she has donated more than $156,000 to organizations that support youth with disabilities in Alberta.
Why is it important to hire people with disabilities?
Everyone has the right to work, provide for themselves and be a supporting member of society and their community. As a business owner, I believe it is our human duty and responsibility to offer employment opportunities to diverse groups of people, and especially to include people who are not commonly considered for positions, as this lifts up our community to be healthier and happier.
What benefits have you seen by hiring people with disabilities?
- Employee retention
Employee retention is higher among our disabled employees, and since becoming an inclusive workplace, we have seen an increase in employee retention among all of our staff members. They share, they have more purpose working for a company that cares more about developing people than just sales and profits.
- Positive work culture
Being an inclusive employer has also created a better work culture and positive environment in a couple of ways: by attracting people to apply for positions at Milk Jar that share our same company values of equity, inclusion and diversity, and by us becoming more accommodating to our employees and dedicated to their goals, growth and success. Accommodation for one person can usually be an accommodation desired by all employees, which has created a better employee experience.
- Community support
People want to support companies that have adopted equity, diversity and inclusion practices. Prioritizing the people in your company and the customers you serve by welcoming everyone and giving them equal opportunity will allow your company to gain access to more diverse markets and grow your business.
Since becoming an inclusive workplace, we have seen an increase in employee retention among all of our staff members. - Holly Singer
What does inclusion look like among your workforce?
Our employees work wonderfully side by side. Everyone in our production team knows what is expected of them for an efficient day with everyone working to the best of their ability. Our production members are paired with another team member that day that is their buddy so they can ask for assistance if they need it or a question they may have which delegates the responsibility to support one another and work as a team to everyone.
When we began hiring people with disabilities, it highlighted gaps in our training guides that were either non-existent or lacked detail. It also highlighted how important regular check-ins by supervisors and management is with all of our staff throughout the day. It has reduced the guesswork our staff may have on their daily tasks and created opportunities for our employees to share what they are working on, ask any questions they may have at the moment and praise them for their success that day. This has created more connection and cohesion among all departments and teams.
When we began hiring people with disabilities, it highlighted gaps in our training guides that were either non-existent or lacked detail. - Holly Singer
What is required as an employer to accommodate hiring people with disabilities?
What is required as an employer to accommodate hiring people with disabilities is the same requirements as accommodating hiring anyone in your company. In the interview process, you learn about the potential employees' availability and the hours per week they are able to work. The main accommodations we make for our employees with disabilities is a more flexible start time from our opening time due to them taking public transportation or access that has a more varied arrival schedule.
As an employer, you need to be aware of your employee's circumstances that correlate to how they work best, and how you gain that awareness is through intentful communication and asking questions about what they need to be successful in coming to work and getting their job done. Potentially a longer lunch break or smaller breaks more often is an accommodation that your employee desires to be focused while working, this is an accommodation that any employee can request as we have seen it is beneficial for a couple of our employees that wanted to go home at lunch to take out their new puppy, this is not solely an accommodation only for our employees with disabilities.
Clear, direct and thoughtful communication is a skill we began to practice and develop in our workplace when we became an inclusive employer. - Holly Singer
Intentful communication is everything in a work environment. Clear, direct and thoughtful communication is a skill we began to practice and develop in our workplace when we became an inclusive employer. Early on in our management, we would sometimes assume employees would know what was expected of them without communicating it at all, or well, which led to issues and misunderstandings. When we began training people with disabilities, we learned the importance of clear communication for their success, and in turn, all employees' success.
Continuously reflecting on how we can better set our employees up for success, giving feedback at the moment and speaking intently allows everyone to be aware of the expectations, perform to the best of their ability and be successful.