Diverse workers have been among the hardest hit by the pandemic, facing more work-induced stress and fear over the future of their employment.
In fact, a million U.S. workers with disabilities lost their jobs between March and August of 2020. By the end of the year, the unemployment rate for this group was double the national average at 12.3%.
The unfair treatment of workers with disabilities has permeated the global workforce long before the pandemic. In the U.K., employees with disabilities were more likely to report increased workloads and decreased access to overtime compared to those who are able-bodied.
Additionally, the U.S. has been paying workers with disabilities with less than minimum wage for several years.
Companies with an emphasis on diversity have been proven to be the most successful, and this includes providing workers with disabilities more opportunities.
Those with disabilities have been found to be some of the world’s biggest innovators, and without these team members, companies inevitably hurt from what could have been a great product or service.
Additionally, customers often feel a connection to a service or product when it is being provided by someone that is reflective of them. Representation is essential for any forward-thinking organization.
That is why companies who want to create a work environment need to include the crucial perspective of employees who are disabled, as well as address barriers they may face in the workplace.