An Employer's Guide to Attracting Talented Employees with Disabilities

If you're an entrepreneur or manager interested in hiring individuals with disabilities, you've made a savvy business decision. Hiring persons with disabilities doesn't just create a more inclusive workspace for all. Research shows that companies with these kinds of hiring practices perform better, enjoying up to 28% higher revenue and 30% higher profit margins. That said, if you want to attract top talent, you have to put in some effort. Read the following guide from the Nisswa Chamber of Commerce to learn what kinds of benefits you can implement to attract persons with disabilities and how you can create a welcoming work atmosphere.

Address the administrative setup needed for hiring

Before you can start hiring employees, you need to tackle a few logistical hurdles. For example, to formally employ people, you need to have an employer identification number, or EIN. This is issued by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) and is sort of like a Social Security number but for companies. You'll need it for payroll taxes. Before you hire others, you'll also want to have lawyers review any potential work contracts and develop a comprehensive onboarding process.

Establish a benefits system that will attract persons with disabilities

Beyond a good salary, it's important to provide potential workers with great benefits. For example, you might offer special training sessions or provide a budget to invest in workplace tools that make it easier for persons with disabilities to do their jobs. Employee wellness programs are another attractive benefit. Examples include providing fitness accommodations or gym passes and creating opportunities for employees to de-stress.

Create learning and mentorship opportunities for individuals with disabilities

Networking and mentorship opportunities can help people from all walks of life get ahead in their careers. Provide support for workers with disabilities, connecting them to a broader professional network and setting them up with mentors. Monster.com has tips for people with disabilities who are seeking mentorship. For example, informational interviews are a great way to connect with others and learn about an industry. As an employer, you might set up these kinds of opportunities for your workers.

Make accommodations in the workplace for those with disabilities

When you hire someone with a disability, you commit to helping them succeed on the job. This can mean making reasonable accommodations in the workplace to ensure they can do their job just as well as any other worker. For example, if you have an employee who needs a wheelchair, you want to ensure that the office is wheelchair-accessible. If you have an employee with vision problems, a larger computer screen may be useful. For employees who are hearing impaired, it may be necessary to get a screen reader.

Revamp your recruitment process to embrace individuals with disabilities

Highlight the ways you are making work easier for persons with disabilities, especially when you're recruiting. This might involve rethinking the way you write job ads and interview people. For instance, list relevant benefits in job ads. You can also take steps to write more inclusive job descriptions that directly call out your desire to create an inclusive, diverse workplace. Finally, make sure that your interviews accommodate those with disabilities. For example, remote interviews may be easier for people with mobility challenges.

Create a culture of inclusivity in your workplace

As your team grows to include more persons with disabilities, make sure you're giving them the inclusive workplace you promised. For example, you might create a recruiting document that outlines your commitment to creating an inclusive company culture. This can detail both steps you take as an employer and what you expect of your employees to foster inclusivity. You can try this tool for free to convert your inclusivity document to a PDF. Simply convert files to PDF by dragging and dropping them into the tool.

Hiring individuals with disabilities creates a more inclusive workplace and benefits you as a company. From getting an EIN to creating documents that outline your commitment to inclusivity, the above steps can help employers create diverse workplaces.