The business case for diversity
"I feel very strongly that disabled people are extremely undervalued. If employers would only look beyond the disability they would see that disabled
people have a lot to offer and have the potential to be valuable members of
the workforce."
Disabled respondent
Achieving diversity within the workforce is not just something that employers should do because 'it's the right thing to do'. Diversity is also good for business.
Many of the country's leading employers recognise the business advantages of recruiting a more diverse workforce and that disabled employees are a vital part of that diversity. Besides their ability to do the job a diverse workforce brings additional benefits including:
- Competitive advantage - It helps a company to have employees who come from all parts of society and who are, look, act, and think like the company's potential customers. A diverse workforce can help meet changing consumer demands and emerging niche markets.
- Diverse perspectives - Disabled people have considerable life experience, solving challenging problems on a regular basis. Creative problem-solving skills can help companies find new solutions and lead to more satisfied customers.
- Representative workforce - If a company's workforce mirrors the diversity of Britain's population, companies will be more representative of their customers and potential customers. A diverse workforce enables companies to connect with all sectors of the community increasing their customer base and creating a positive image of the company.
- Larger pool of potential employees - Disabled people make up 20% of the working age population in Britain. Ignoring potential disabled employees means companies are missing out on a large pool of talent, skills and expertise.
- Universal access - Employing disabled people promotes universal access which, in turn, benefits everyone. For example, automatic doors also are not only accessible to disabled people but also improve access for other employees and customers with heavy loads or children in tow. Larger print, larger computer monitors and improved lighting reduce eyestrain. Ergonomic chairs and workstations cut down on health complaints, and flexible work arrangements increase the job satisfaction of all employees.