It’s been decades since the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) was enacted. This law is a civil rights law that prohibits discrimination against individuals with disabilities in all areas of public life, including work. Yet organizations often still fall short when it comes to accommodating workers with disabilities. As baby boomers age and millions of people struggle with the long-term effects of COVID-19, disability-related the impact of absenteeism will be magnified.
The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission defines disability as a physical or mental disability that substantially limits a major life activity. According to the 2022 report, only 19% of her working-age people with disabilities were employed. fairness and inclusion at work.
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The Disability Management Employer Coalition (DMEC) is one such company resource, focusing on disability and absenteeism managers on how to implement a consistent return-to-work program that reduces employee vacation time. provides an education. We are focused on getting employees back to work regardless of where the disability originated, making this part of our culture, not a compliance issue.
DMEC CEO Terri Rhodes said: “Many employers struggle with how to define and pay for this. It’s not just about accommodations. Returning to work is a culture. The idea is that people find opportunities to go back to work.
read more: 3 things to consider when implementing a disability management program
To come up with a good organizational approach to disability management (aimed at reducing the impact of disability on individuals and employers), consider when considering the wide range of conditions recognized under the ADA. should be customized to meet compliance and individual job requirements. Since there is no master list of covered disabilities, employers are encouraged to assess and provide what employees need to attend and be productive, and reach out to experts who can help streamline processes. is the best.
Rhodes said many disability insurers that manage leave of absence now manage accommodations for employers. She said managers must have consistency and policies to help employees understand what they need to do, and that employers who make an effort to recognize and respond to disability in the workplace should ensure that employees He adds that he does a lot to improve the overall trust employees have in the company.
“Employee morale is boosted by seeing colleagues help through the transition and return to full function,” she says. “It’s spread across the organization. They know there’s an opportunity to get back to work, whatever this issue is.”
In addition to improving workplace culture, companies that initiate return-to-work practices will also benefit from a cost perspective. The Job Accommodation Network (JAN), a free resource for employers looking for guidance in the field of disability management, says that average accommodation costs nothing and usually costs about $500 for his one. It reports a one-time cost.
“If you have a robust light work or transitional work program, you save money,” says Rhodes. Because there is overtime for workers and other employees, and there is also intellectual capital, and if there is someone in the profession, even if it is someone who has a role and can be relied upon, they will always pass on that knowledge. It is not guaranteed that you will.”
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Employers who include people with disabilities in the workplace do more than protect and enrich their workforce. Corporate cultureBy promoting a sense of belonging within the company, they talent pool Working in a stable and supportive environment offers people the opportunity to be mentally, physically and financially well-being.
“Everyone should be given an equal chance to go back to work,” says Rhodes. “Corporate America is more reactionary and there are things we can do better with a positive mindset. It’s not enough to just talk about these things, especially if you want to have a workforce in the future. There’s a lot to talk about, What are your actions?”
