The advantages of hiring a person with a disability were once underutilised or excluded from the general workforce. Stigmas along with not understanding the skills and capabilities they often offer businesses have resulted in employment rates of only 48%. When you compare this percentage to people that don't have disabilities the employment rates are around 79% which is a significant gap.

Perceptions that surround the way that a workplace should look has undergone dramatic changes due to Covid-19, offering the perfect opportunity to look at different ways to change the current workplace environment. Increasing the once poor statistics for employment of individuals with disabilities should be not only morally important but also economically important. Companies could be missing out when it comes to talented and qualified individuals that add value and are willing to work for their organisations. For more info about disability employment visit https://goodsammy.com.au/academy/disability-employment.

Productivity

Some assumptions and biases employing a person with a disability can result in less productivity, yet many studies indicate that this isn't true. Individuals with disabilities perform in the same way as those without disabilities. They also take much fewer absent days when compared to workers without disabilities. 

Low Attrition

It can cost money to hire a person. The typical costs relating to hiring a person in Australia averages around 5 thousand dollars. This is why it is important to keep employees happy and engaged so that they stick around. Individuals with disabilities usually serve longer tenures, offering a way for companies to retain this valuable expertise and experience for longer. 

Change In Perceptions

Inclusive workplaces also bring about a lot more advantages for companies. Higher productivity, lower turnover, and increased employee morale and engagement, all experience dramatic increases when it comes to more inclusive organisations. 

What is usually more important, but far less measurable for any company, is a difference in perspectives and opinions derived from various backgrounds. This often results in a dramatic improvement in innovation, problem-solving, and creativity within teams.

What Does It Cost To Hire People With Disabilities

One of the roadblocks that many people face with a disability when it comes to employment has to do with the "perceived costs" to accommodate the condition that they have. While this is a terrible way to look at a person, this is untrue. Close to 60% of accommodations cost nothing. The average cost for the workplaces when needed was only around 5 thousand dollars.

Looking at the advantages mentioned above it appears that the investment is small in the more inclusive and balanced workplace. At the same time, consumers favour those companies that have hired individuals with disabilities. With close to 1.3 billion "differently-abled" people around the world that are currently supported by 2.2 billion family and friends or 8 trillion in "disposable income", this is a significant market that should not be ignored. 

What Are The Benefits Of Employing Individuals With A Disability

Around 1 in 5 Australians live with some type of disability. These include the people that live with a mental health condition. It is more than likely those job vacancies that are filled with great candidates, your business has already employed individuals with disabilities. It just makes good sense that you are doing so. 

The case for businesses to hire a person with a disability is very strong. There are important cost savings you can achieve through lower staff turnover along with decreased retraining and recruitment costs. At the same time, individuals with disabilities have fewer accidents while at work and lower compensation incidents, in comparison to the employees without disabilities. This means that worker compensation costs and insurance costs are usually also lower.

Employing a person with a disability also ensures that your teams are reflecting the communities in which they operate more accurately. Like any other employee, a person with a disability also brings many abilities, talents, and skills to your workplace. They also work in all types of roles, with most holding trade or tertiary qualifications. 

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