How to Become More Inclusive in Your Employment Practices

By Elijah Dawson

Creating a more inclusive culture is one way to attract differently-abled new hires. For example, don’t just have generic events that require people to be able to drive or have the ability to attend in person.

Offer options for those who are less mobile and can’t get out much. Also, make sure your website is fully compliant with how assistive devices work so these individuals can access it without issue. Below, you’ll find some more housekeeping items to help point you in the right direction.

As a brief aside, it’s important to think about implementing temporary accommodations to reduce the risk of COVID. For example, you might need to install temporary barriers to ensure social distancing. Doing so will make your company more attractive to those who need peace of mind in this area.

Recruitment Process

One housekeeping item is to make sure your recruitment process is in place to accommodate differently-abled people. It’s important that you have a clear plan on how new hires will enter your company, what job offers are available for them, and which benefits they’ll receive.

You need to be able to explain this process in detail when you’re interviewing someone or speaking with them on the phone. This includes how quickly they can expect an offer letter if there are other hiring managers involved in vetting the candidate and what steps they’ll take before making the final decision.

Establish Your Business with the State

It’s important to make sure you have your business established with the state in order to maintain tax compliance and to obtain your EIN. This is crucial when you’re hiring staff because the IRS uses your EIN for payroll taxes, and it’s required for offering your employees retirement plans.

Creating a More Inclusive Culture

A company’s culture is one of the most important aspects of an employee’s work experience. The best way to ensure an inclusive culture is to provide opportunities for different backgrounds and perspectives.

That doesn’t mean all offices need a ping-pong table, but it does mean you should take steps to make sure your office environment is welcoming for everyone who wants to join your team.

Making Your Website Work for Assistive Devices

A simple and effective way to attract differently-abled new hires is to make sure that your website can be accessed by those with different types of devices, like screen readers or browsers.

If you’re not sure how to go about this process, ask for help from an expert. There are professionals who can develop custom web accessibility solutions tailored to your company’s needs. They’ll also help you ensure that your website is compliant with all applicable laws in order to avoid liability.

Creating Internship Programs for Those with Disabilities

Some companies offer internships for people with disabilities as a way to test-drive the relationship and see if it’s mutually beneficial for both parties.

These internship programs are created with the help of nonprofit organizations and are often offered through social media sites, providing an enriching opportunity for people who may not otherwise have access to such opportunities.

Revamping Your Recruitment Process

Employers have a duty to keep their workforce diverse and inclusive. This means using a recruitment process that doesn’t discriminate against people with disabilities. You should make sure your website can work with assistive devices, offer career planning opportunities for those with disabilities, and create internship programs to help bridge the gap.