Notable Retention Strategies

Among efforts to foster awareness around disclosure, it's important to maximize communication channels to support the retention of employees with disabilities and integrate educational materials into the regular company activities. It’s not enough to simply “keep” employees, but to foster an open communication about disabilities that maintains an overall high-quality workplace. By strategizing the use of multiple communication channels, companies are able to distribute messaging to a larger audience, broaden the conversation, and communicate via the preferred touch points of different audience members. Noteworthy communication channels included: community groups, the company handbook, the internal website, newsletters, the SharePoint site, phone numbers, suggestion boxes, checklists, speaker events and webcasts.

internal networks.

Specific internal networks that support the disability community in the workplace are imperative to keep the diversity & inclusion conversation alive. In this context, internal networks are company supported employees groups that communicate around the topic of disabilities. Opportunities to form communities around disabilities helps build supportive relationships, offers a space to share interests/concerns, and provides a place to discuss better practices. 

There are two successful implementation formats: ongoing and event-oriented. Ongoing internal networks included: resource groups, interest groups, support groups, and counseling sessions. There is a sense of empowerment in these types of networks. In order to keep them alive, it is important to have advocates that ensure that materials are represented effectively in different parts of the region. Event-oriented internal networks included: forums, conferences, and workshops. Internal forums can serve as an outlet for employees to learn more about people with disabilities and help people with disabilities learn more about what the firm has to offer; it is geared towards raising awareness about individuals with disabilities. Events can have a salient effect on employees and leadership alike, and can serve as a powerful communication channel to drive change within a company.