Benefits of Hiring Those With Disabilities

People with disabilities are reliable employees and have higher job satisfaction and overall higher job retention rates.

Many studies have shown that people with disabilities take less absent days and are more likely to stay on the job longer than non-disabled workers. Recently, The Chicago Lighthouse studied the retention rate of employees in its Illinois Tollway Customer Care Center, which employs people who are blind, visually impaired, disabled and Veterans (as well as people without disabilities.) On average, the employees with vision loss or other disabilities and Veterans had a retention rate of 1.7 years. In contrast, the retention rate for employees without disabilities or that were not Veterans was only 0.9 years.

(source httpss://chicagolighthouse.org/sandys-view/top-5-benefits-hiring-people-disabilities)

You can increase your consumer market and revenue.

The disability community represents a trillion dollar market segment, with the Center for Disease Control and Prevention reporting 1 in 5 adults living with a disability in the U.S. Just like other market segments, people with disabilities and their friends and family purchase products and services from companies that best meet their needs. By hiring people with disabilities, you are showing this market segment that you care about their needs, thus increasing your opportunity to widen your customer base and bring in extra revenue. In addition, hiring people with disabilities means you will be able to test proposed marketing tactics among people with disabilities.

Most employers of people with disabilities report high work quality.

A study conducted by the Institute for Corporate Productivity revealed that 3 out of 4 employers surveyed ranked their employees with disabilities as good or very good on work quality, motivation, engagement, integration with co-workers, dependability, and attendance.

Some employers can qualify for tax credits and other tax incentives.

1. Work Opportunity Tax Credit;
2. Disabled Access Credit; and
3. Barriers Removal Tax Deduction.

(Source httpss://www.irs.gov/businesses/small-businesses-self-employed/tax-benefits-for-businesses-who-have-employees-with-disabilities)