Due to an ever changing country and those that make up the country there is need for diversity in the workplace. One group of people that need to be considered are those with disabilities. Companies like Walgreens have made an effort to hire those with disabilities and have found that it actually improves the workplace. Overview The case reviewed for this essay is on the topic of disabilities and diversity. Walgreens is used as the example of how hiring those with disabilities can work for companies. The case states that Walgreens staffed a good percentage of its workforce for a new facility with those with disabilities (Gomez-Mejia, Balkin, & Cardy, 2012). Gomez-Mejia et al., goes on to state that in doing so Walgreens actually saw …show more content…
an increase in production just from making the changes that those with disabilities needed, it also improved the work of those that did not need accommodations (2012). Walgreens is an example of how hiring those with disabilities does not always create an unsatisfactory result. Benefits Walgreens saw benefits from this diverse workforce.
One tangible benefit that was described in the case was the increase of twenty percent in its efficiency (Gomez-Mejia et al., 2012). This was not just from those hired with disabilities but also those who do not. Intangible Benefits Tangible benefits were not the only benefits Walgreens saw, they also saw intangible benefits. For example, Walgreens is known for hiring those with disabilities. In doing so they are creating good perceptions of their company to current and potential customers. This can lead to tangible benefits like increased sales. Barriers Those with disabilities face more barriers then other minority groups when it comes to getting into the workforce. One of the largest barriers faced is that of the perceived cost to accommodate. The EEOC requires that accommodations be made if it does not cause large financial strain on the company (Gomez-Mejia et al., 2012). There is a perception that the cost to accommodate those with disabilities is excessive, so therefor they cannot accommodate. However, often times this is not the case. “57% of accommodations cost absolutely nothing to make, while the rest typically cost only $500” (Department of Labor, 2016, p. 1). This misconception is a barrier that those with disabilities have to
overcome. Common Mission A key learning from this case is that companies need to have a common mission when it comes to diversity. Whenever part of the management works together in this mission, it can accomplish that mission. For example, in the case of Walgreens, they had a goal of employing one-third of its workforce from disabled candidates, they went on to hire even more at around forty percent (Gomez-Mejia et al., 2012). This is a perfect example of why all parts of management need to work together to reach their common goal. If one member does not commit they will struggle with the mission. Increase Diversity The workforce becoming more diverse is another key learning from this case. One factor in the increase in diversity is globalization which is causing an increase in cultural and language barriers (Pitts & Wise, 2010). With the growth of the internet we communicate with those of differing backgrounds on a day to day basis. Thus it is becoming essential to have a diverse workforce that can aid in your company’s success. For example, if you are starting a business that deals with someone from South America, it would help if you have an employee who is familiar with the culture and traditions and even better the language in completing the deal. This can assist so that you do not say something that is accepted in the United States but seen as defamatory in another country. As Patrick and Kumar say “one has to overcome language and stereotype barriers” (2012, p.2). This shows us that the business world is becoming more diverse, so should each company. Conclusion Diversity is all around us, and is continuing to grow in the business world. Each diverse group has barriers that they must overcome weather they are misconceptions or not. Companies in this globalized world need diverse workgroups to assist in this diverse world. Those that have diversity see benefits from doing so.
Moran, John Jude. "Disability Discrimination." Employment Law: New Challenges in the Business Environment. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Prentice Hall, 2014. 413-14. Print.
The concept of discrimination is complex in the case of “The Big One” in this case, corporations in the United States of America such as Nike, Spalding, Microsoft and AT&T are not willing to change their ways of manufacturing their goods in third world countries and American detention centres, and this causes perfectly able bodied employees in the United States to become unemployed as more and more companies apply this measure to make additional profit for themsel...
The Disability Discrimination Act of 1995 set out to end the discrimination people with disabilities encounter. The Act gave disabled people the right to employment, access to goods, facilities, and services and the right to buy and rent land and property. These rights came into force in December 1996, making treating a disabled person less favorably than an able-bodied person unlawful. Further rights came into force in October 1999, including the idea that service providers should consider making reasonable adjustments to the way they deliver their services so that people with a disability can use them. (The DDA...) However, despite these
The movement continues to make great strides towards the empowerment and self determination ("Disability rights movement," 2005, p. 3). On the other hand, it has not completely broken down barriers that continue to create the dynamics of oppression among such individuals. For instance, WIOA can be harmful to individuals with disabilities because there are still societal prejudices and biases associated with the stereotypical portrayal of people with disabilities and WIOA has played a role in it. For example, WIOA networks with employers to hire individual’s with disabilities and place them in conventional settings, where they work with others who have disabilities, for example, Walgreen’s and in fact, these participating organizations have also increased their pay. In my opinion, individual’s with disabilities should be able to work with individuals who are not disabled, as well. Furthermore, pay for those individuals who are still considered to be in “sheltered” work programs have not received an increase in pay. Additionally, according to my studies, in 2012, less than 30 percent of Florida’s civilians with disabilities between age 18-64 living in the community were employed. There is a greater priority focused on young people who are disabled. This is an additional issue in my opinion which can be considered discrimination, because, the focus leaves out middle aged individuals as well as,
The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) is probably the most comprehensible formulation of disabled individuals’ rights. The ADA officially became a law July 26, 1990 signed by President Bush. To understand the impact of the ADA, one must understand that almost every individual or family is touched by an experience of disability at one time or another. The necessities for state and local government, transportation, employment, and telecommunications can latently benefit everyone. An important point to understand is unlike people who have experienced discrimination based...
Because of a 75 year old section of the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938, companies that use sheltered workshops to train workers with disabilities, such as Goodwill Industries, can legally pay their employees just pennies an hour. The section of the Fair Labor Standards Act that legalizes this behavior needs to be repealed in order to ensure fair pay and treatment of every employee in today’s workforce. To begin, I will explain the use of sheltered workshops and the timed tests used to determine subminimum wages for employees with disabilities. I will then go on to discuss the history of the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938 and how companies use a section of the legislation to get away with paying their employees with disabilities so little. And finally I will discuss the ethics behind the use of this piece of legislation and also provide a counter argument which supports subminimum wages.
Historically, we have been taught that people with disabilities are different and do not belong among us, because they are incompetent, cannot contribute to society or that they are dangerous. We’re still living with the legacy of people with disabilities being segregated, made invisible, and devalued. The messages about people with disabilities need to be changed. There needs to be more integration of people with disabilities into our culture to balance out the message. Because of our history of abandonment and initialization, fear and stigma impact our choices more than they would if acceptance, community integration, and resources were a bigger part of our history.
The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) is one of the most significant laws in American History. Before the ADA was passed, employers were able to deny employment to a disabled worker, simply because he or she was disabled. With no other reason other than the person's physical disability, they were turned away or released from a job. The ADA gives civil rights protections to individuals with disabilities similar to those provided to individuals on the basis of race, color, sex, national origin, age, and religion. The act guarantees equal opportunity for individuals with disabilities in public accommodations, employment, transportation, State and local government services, and telecommunications. The ADA not only opened the door for millions of Americans to get back into the workplace, it paved the road for new facilities in the workplace, new training programs, and created jobs designed for a disabled society (Frierson, 1990). This paper will discuss disabilities covered by the ADA, reasonable accommodations employers must take to accommodate individuals with disabilities, and the actions employers can take when considering applicants who have disabilities.
The ADA prohibits employer discrimination against qualified individuals with a disability in regard to application procedures, hiring and firing, promotions, pay, training, and other terms, conditions, and privileges of employment (Hernandez, 2001). This applies to the entire range of employer-employee relationships, including testing, work assignments, discipline, leave, benefits, and lay-offs. In addition, the ADA prohibits retaliation against individuals w...
I believe the Americans With Disabilities Act is the most important precedent set in the struggle against all discrimination for persons with disability. In this paper I will give a brief description of the statutes set by the Americans With Disabilities Act, pertaining to disabilities in the workplace. I will then discuss what employers are required to do according to the A.D.A. and some of the regulations they must abide by. The next section of this paper will discuss the actual training of employees with disabilities with a highlight on training programs for workers with mobility and motion disabilities. The following section of this paper will discuss the economic effects of a vocational rehabilitation program. Finally this paper will conclude with a brief discussion of what the measures set by the Americans With Disabilities Act means to the actual workers and people it benefits.
Disability is everywhere; sometimes it is visible and other times it is not. When asked to look for it you can often find it in places you frequently visit but just never have paid enough attention to notice it. According to the world health organization disability is, “any restriction or lack of ability to perform an activity in the manner or within the range considered ‘normal’ for a human being” (2004). I currently work at a fast-food restaurant. The doors to this restaurant are not accessible to people with disabilities because they do not open automatically. One day while I was working, a costumer seemed to be having difficulties coming in to place an order, the problem appeared to be that he was unable to open the door while trying to operate his wheelchair. He was frustrated and seemed embarrassed because he required another costumers help to do the task of opening the door, which is often seen as a simple everyday routine. The costumer who was unable to come inside the restaurant is considered to be
This research paper is a case study focusing on the discrimination of workers living with a disease or illness. I chose this topic based on the need to educate others on the signs of workplace discrimination. Job discrimination in the workplace can effect many people in many different situations. This particular study chooses to focus on those individuals living with a terminal illness.
Thanks to Ed Roberts, Mary Switzer and Gini Laurie the 3 major players in the Independent Living and Civil Rights movement, people with disabilities now have access to public schools with an Individualized program, access to buildings, facilities, buses for transportation and are protected by law from discrimination. “Approximately 50 million people today lead independent, self-affirming lives who define themselves according to their personhood their ideas, beliefs, hopes and dreams above and beyond their disability” (A Brief History,
People with disabilities have become an integral part of the workforce. The ADA forbids discrimination against people with disabilities when recruiting, hiring, training, and compensating employees (Sotoa & Kleiner, 2013). The ADA prohibits discrimination against people with disabilities in employment, transportation, public accommodation, communications, and governmental and establishes requirements for telecommunications relay services (activities (Stryker, R. (2013). Employers are not allowed to ask employees if they have a disability. The employers are not allowed to ask employees with disabilities to undergo a medical exam before an offer of employment unless all applicants are required to take the same exam (Kaye, Jans, & Jones, 2011). It is mandatory for organizations to make necessary accommodations for the employee’s disabilities unless it would create an undue hardship to the organization. However, new laws were passed stating that if accommodations would be too burdensome, and no other solutions can be found for the job, the disable person must be given another vacant job (Sotoa & Kleiner, 2013). The requirements for employers under ADA are very strict and organizations must work diligently to provide the needs of the employees with disabilities to comply with the law.
Every day in America, a woman loses a job to a man, a homosexual high school student suffers from harassment, and someone with a physical or mental disability is looked down upon. People with disabilities make up the world’s largest and most disadvantaged minority, with about 56.7 million people living with disabilities in the United States today (Barlow). In every region of the country, people with disabilities often live on the margins of society, deprived of some of life’s fundamental experiences. They have little hope of inclusion within education, getting a job, or having their own home (Cox). Everyone deserves a fair chance to succeed in life, but discrimination is limiting opportunities and treating people badly because of their disability.