With 1.3 million disabled people in the UK looking for work, it is in the best interest of your business to make the most of the extensive pool of high-quality candidates available.
By becoming a responsible employer and creating a diverse workforce there are significant opportunities to benefit your business. However, to do this businesses need to have a clearer understanding of what disability actually means.
A disability is a physical or mental impairment that has a substantial and long-term effect on someone's ability to do normal daily activities. However, from our experience, disabled employees can offer businesses a wide range of skills, including those that they have had to develop in their everyday lives such as resilience, determination and problem solving. These attributes are invaluable in the workplace.
There are a number of compelling reasons as to why becoming 'disability confident' is good for business:
1. Widening the talent pool: Hiring managers often overlook this talented group of skilled workers. Many disabled workers are qualified for the jobs they apply for, however when this is not the case their enthusiasm and willingness to learn will make them a positive recipient for on the job training.
2. Staff retention: It goes without saying that workers with a disability can be just as productive and reliable, if not more so, than their colleagues. They are a resource of resilience and willpower and generally offer improved loyalty to their employer and are less likely to job hop.
3. Gain competitive advantage: Having a workforce that is representative of your customer-base can be hugely beneficial. According to a DWP report in July this year, nearly seven million people of working age in the UK are disabled or have a health condition so for an average business, 20% of their customers are disabled, therefore having a better understanding of this community is good for business.
4. Team spirit: Many employees find working alongside disabled peers a rewarding and enriching experience. A happy workforce is a productive workforce and therefore directly impacts your bottom line.
5. Strengthen your brand image: By diversifying your workforce you're proactively bringing your CSR strategy to life. By being Disability Confident you're promoting an equal, fair and positive recruitment process, which will add credibility and favourability to your corporate image.
Matthew Sanders (pictured) is founder and CEO of Placeability
