A debate that regularly comes up (and is presently doing so) is that of the basis on which people with a disability should be employed. Specifically this question; what motivates employers to hire?
There are many answers but in my experience only one that really offers a solution to the employment and full participation of would be workers with disability.
Motivations such as, social responsibility, care for the community and a nice thing to do may be great initial reasons to consider hiring a non-traditional employee but they won’t and don’t last.
people generally go into business to improve their own lot. Business owners take risks, work extra hours and invest of themselves with the ultimate aim of bettering their own condition and these motivations are essentially the same from the grandest to the humblest of organisations.
This then is the key and the only truth leading to full participation, integration and sustainable long term jobs: make the boss money! Bring in more than you take out.
Those workers that do this will never be fired. Instead they will be treasured and cared for (at least by wise employers) in the sure knowledge that if they are not, then their labour will go elsewhere.
Why do workers get fired?
Personality may occasionally play a part, but for the majority the only reason a business lets a worker go is that the sum isn’t working anymore; they are just costing more than they bring in.
So when will business hire workers with disability?
When they (the business owners and those responsible, perceive such workers to be on the plus side of their ledgers – they are going to bring in more than they take out.
The real barrier is effectively conveying this message in an acceptable format and I don’t think that’s via a disability employment agency message or through a government campaign. Business owners see both as vested interests, people who ‘would say that, wouldn’t they’.
So what does work?
It’s employers speaking about their experience its through the promotion of ‘Champions’ business professionals and owners at all levels talking about their positive experiences – the very best run along the feel, felt, found model: “ I understand you might feel apprehensive, I felt the same way but I found….” - with a positive story to follow.
Each year NOVA publishes “NOVAMonials” a book of the experiences of employers that have actually hired a person with a disability and the true account of that experience.
Call us on 1800656537 if you’d like a copy.
Would you like a face-to-face meeting with Martin via Skype? Click the button below to make an appointment
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