Business Benefits of Employing People with Disability
When organisations have made their selection processes barrier-free to people with disability, they ensure that all potential employees who have the relevant skills, qualifications and experience are able to apply. Employers benefit by increasing the size of the talent pool from which they recruit, making it easier to find the best person for the job. Other benefits of employing people with disability include low absenteeism and employee turnover, low incidence of workplace injury,* and improved employee loyalty, which all help to create cost effective businesses.
Becoming a manager who is confident about employing people with disability will mean that you are well placed to:
- Attract and retain the best candidates from the widest talent pool;
- Retain employees who have valuable experience and knowledge if or when they acquire disability;
- Reduce sick leave and early ‘medical’ retirements;
- Strengthen workplace morale and productivity;
- Reduce workplace incidents;
- Reduce the risk of claims of unlawful discrimination against your organisation.
Research has shown that there is a strong business case, as well as an ethical case, for employing people with disability.
With one in five people in Australia having a disability, many of your clients and customers will also be people with disability. Having employees with disability can help you to understand what your customers or clients with disability may need, which can give you an edge over your competitors. Having a workforce that reflects the diversity of the wider community, your customers and shareholders can lead to greater customer loyalty and satisfaction.
* Australian Safety & Compensation Council Report “Are People with Disability at Risk at Work?” May 2007.