remote work

Canadians who experience a disability are ready to work remotely

According to a recent McKinsey Global Institute article, the future of the workplace is likely to combine some remote work with work in an office following the COVID-19 pandemic. For many employees, some activities during a typical day are suitable for remote work, such as gathering information or communicating, while other activities require employees to be physically on-site, such as operating equipment or providing care.

With many work activities being completed from home successfully, employers are seeing that remote work is possible and, at times, even more efficient. In the wake of the global pandemic, the workforce is moving away from the traditional office-centric model of work and toward a hybrid model, but what does this mean for employees who experience a disability?

Remote work reduces some barriers to employment faced by people experiencing disability. Working from home alleviates many stresses that workers with disabilities face at work every day, including commuting and maneuvering around an office. It also facilitates collaboration between technology and team members, and enables employees to use their personal computer setup for accessibility features like screen readers and magnification.

Working from home creates opportunities for employees with disabilities who wouldn’t otherwise be able to get to a physical location. It gives workers the ability to share their skills in new ways. This is more productive, comfortable and safe for employees who experience a disability—and for your organization.

As an employer, it’s easier than ever to accommodate employees who experience a disability in the workplace. Working from home eliminates the need for in-office workplace adaptations, so you can accommodate disabilities at little to no cost to your business.

Is your business ready to embrace remote work?

There are thousands of highly educated, skilled Canadians with disabilities who are ready to work remotely. The Canadian Association for Supported Employment (CASE) can help connect you to these talented individuals today!

A national association for the supported employment sector, CASE is the go-to source for supported employment expertise in Canada. The association works with employers, supported employment service providers, and job seekers to increase employment inclusion for Canadians with disabilities. As the workforce moves toward a hybrid model, CASE supplies access to resources that employers can use to develop and support inclusive hiring practices.

Implementing a strong work-from-home policy is worthwhile for your organization

The pivot away from traditional workplace structures has encouraged businesses to adopt new technologies and become more flexible and adaptable. This new landscape brings the potential to improve employment opportunities for people experiencing disability, with the right supports and technology in place.

Proactively setting remote work-from-home policies will ready your workplace to meet accommodation requests from employees experiencing disability, or from employees facing exceptional circumstances at any time. When the essential functions of a job can be performed remotely, strong work-from-home protocol is valuable to have as a general standard, not just in times of pandemic-related restrictions.

Despite the many business benefits, the employment rate of Canadians with disabilities is less than 50%

The business case for hiring Canadians who experience a disability has been repeatedly demonstrated. Yet, employers remain unsure how to best integrate this highly skilled group of individuals into their remote workforce.

That’s why CASE developed a FREE resource that provides employer-specific information about remote work for people who experience a disability. The Remote Work Employer Guide is designed to provide guidance around policy development and practical advice to consider when remotely employing a worker with a disability.

Embracing this new reality can grant your organization with access to an extensive talent pool and valuable new perspectives. Download your Remote Work Employer Guide here.

Learn more about supported employment

With CASE, creating a more diverse workforce is simple and cost-effective. CASE provides employers with easy access to online tools, training resources, best practices and supported employment service providers who provide access to the right job seekers and advice for integrating employees with disabilities into your remote workforce.

To get started, visit supportedemployment.ca and lead the way to employment for all.

About CASE

CASE is a non-profit national association of community-based employment service providers, community allies and stakeholders working towards the employment inclusion of people with disabilities. The association strives to promote full citizenship and personal capacity for persons with disabilities through the facilitation of increased labour market participation. CASE equips supported employment service providers to increase employment inclusion for Canadians who experience disability.

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This article was written by Full Blast Creative on behalf of the Canadian Association for Supported Employment (CASE).