Be. Employed
Be. Employed is a dynamic programme that supports businesses and employers to embrace and facilitate opportunities to be fully accessible to all prospective and current employees.
Accessible employment is a mark of a truly accessible society – one where everyone can be considered for employment and the person with the best skill set and attributes gets the job. This is a growing opportunity for New Zealand. More than 60% of disabled people are unemployed, even though the majority of access employees (around 75%) don’t need extra support to work [1].
A common misconception amongst employers is that employees with access needs require more effort and are more costly to employ. Yet research [2] shows that this is not the case. In fact, workplace diversity contributes positively to an organisation's overall culture, reputation and profitability.
Because of its population size and record of innovation, New Zealand has a huge opportunity to create an entirely accessible country. Equal opportunity to satisfying, meaningful employment is the next step towards that vision.
Building on the foundations of the Employers Disability Network (EDN), members of Be. Employed will continue to enjoy the benefits previously available through the Network, as well as access to additional benefits. These include networking opportunities with other businesses engaged in accessibility leadership.
We are delighted to have joined efforts with EDN to grow more meaningful and accessible employment opportunities for people with disabilities.
If you would like more information about Be. Employed, and/or would like to keep in touch with our progress, please contact us at: info@beaccessible.org.nz.
Next: Read about the Business Case for joining Be. Employed or join us today.
[1] Think Differently website, November 2013, http://www.thinkdifferently.org.nz/resources and Centre for Social Research and Evaluation, June 2005, Disability and work participation in New Zealand: Outcomes relating to paid employment and benefit receipt
[2] Supplier Diversity in the GTA: Business Case and Best Practices http://citiesofmigration.ca/ezine_stories/diversecity-counts-reseach-rates-supplier-diversity/
Investing to keep disabled people in work brings long term benefits http://www.rnib.org.uk/aboutus/mediacentre/mediareleases/mediareleases2011/Pages/pressrelease06Oct2011.aspx