On the heels of a U.S Labor Department effort to encourage federal contractors to hire a minimum number of disabled workers or face penalty, the Wall Street Journal reported that a number of companies have “flooded the department with complaints that the rule amounts to a first-ever government quota for hiring disabled workers that would expose them to a thicket of legal pitfalls.”
Bayer Corporation’s CEO Greg Babe responded with his two cents, maintaining his company’s support of the effort in contrast to what appeared to be a uniform distaste for the new policy by businesses—perhaps due to misconceptions about what employing people with disabilities really means. Babe makes a great point about our larger community: “Fifty million people with disabilities represent a broad cross-section of job seekers and a target market for goods and services.”
For all of the reasons to employ people with disabilities—and make a concerted effort to overcome misconceptions in order to do so—support for a business’ bottom line is the best way to get through to the vast majority of employers. If it makes good business sense, they’ll get on board.
Want more information about our employment of people with disabilities? Read more here.
