Disability Inclusion
Disability inclusion is good for business
In Australia, there are over 4.4 million people with disability and almost half are of working age. As the nation grapples with workforce shortages, we need to look to the enormous untapped potential of the one million Australians with disability who are seeking employment.
Australian Network on Disability’s ten business benefits of an inclusive workforce:
1. Widen your talent pool
Inclusive recruitment processes offer a wider reach in talent pools. With only 53 per cent of working age people with disability in employment, there’s many talented, skilled and knowledgeable people currently excluded due to unintentional barriers.
2. Expand consumer base
Inclusive workforces benefit from universal design, which is good for everyone. (Centre for Inclusive Design 2019, The Benefits of Designing for Everyone)
3. Retain employees
Employees in inclusive workplaces report greater job satisfaction. (Job Access 2019, 2.2 Disability Employment Basics - Diversity makes good business sense)
4. Lower absenteeism
Studies show that people with disability take less days off sick compared to peers without disability. (Aichner 2021, The Economic Argument for Hiring People with Disabilities)
5. Enhance productivity
Studies suggest that a more diverse workforce creates a more productive workforce. (Accenture 2018, Getting to Equal: The Disability Inclusion Advantage)
6. Improve brand reputation
Companies who employ people with disability are four times more likely to outperform their competition in shareholder returns. (Accenture 2018, Getting to Equal: The Disability Inclusion Advantage)
7. Lower workplace risk
Inclusive organisations minimise risk of injury and complaints and are less likely to breach discrimination laws.
8. Workforce reflects customers
Hiring employees that reflect the consumer can improve customer experience.
9. Uphold rights
It is important for all companies to actively recognise and uphold the rights of people with disability.
10. Workplace culture
83 per cent of millennials working in inclusive workplaces report higher levels of engagement and empowerment. (Deloitte 2015, The Radical Transformation of Diversity and Inclusion: The Millennial Influence)