Most of the initial conversations we have with HR, Equality and Inclusion, and Learning and Development managers begin with ‘I’m going to be honest with you. I’ve got very limited knowledge of disability awareness, and just don’t know where to start.’ Fear not, we’re here to help. Follow our advice on how to recruit a diverse workforce and attract disabled candidates to apply for roles.
Did you know that 1 in 5 working adults in the UK have an impairment or disability? When people think of disability they often envisage a wheelchair user, or a person with a guide dog. Consequently, people may overlook impairments such as epilepsy or hearing loss when creating job adverts.
So, how can you ensure that your company’s recruitment process, and employee welfare programme is truly accessible and inclusive? How can attract disabled candidates to apply for roles and recruit a diverse workforce?
Top Tips
1 Encourage applications
Encourage applications from disabled candidates by including a few sentences in the job advert on why your organisation values diversity. And promote that your organisation is an accessible and inclusive place to work by displaying the logo for the disability confident scheme on your website.
2 Provide a point of contact
Provide a point of contact for a disabled candidate to email, Skype or phone should they need to discuss access requirements. Please make sure that your representative is confident with discussing and making any adjustments that may be required. First impressions count!
3 Read through the legal obligations
Read through legal obligations for employers under the Equality Act of 2010. It is essential that you are up to speed with the legalities.
Ask for support
We understand that there’s a fear factor, of saying or doing the wrong thing. However, please believe us when we say we’ve seen and heard it all before.
Our friendly team can provide a range of services including accessibility audits, disability awareness training and British Sign Language lessons. Moving equality and inclusion plans forward may require a culture change within a business. We can support that need with a longer term partnership.
We have the knowledge, approach and experience to help you achieve your goals in a realistic, and cost-effective manner.
Please contact us for an informal chat about how we can support your organisation. Or join our online community on LinkedIn and twitter @EnhanceTheUK #EnhanceTheUK
