Calling HR Leaders: Join a Roundtable Discussion with EHRC

November 20, 2016

Electricity Human Resources Canada (EHRC) is hosting an industry roundtable on December 8 to discuss ways to improve employment access and support for people with disabilities who work (or wish to work) in the Canadian electricity industry.

If you’re an HR professional and would like more information, or are interested in participating, contact Julia Aitken at aitken@electricityhr.ca before December 1.

To put this into context, EHRC research and consultations to date indicate a recognition, interest and willingness among employers to maximize the labour market relevance of being more inclusive of talent from under-represented and minority groups. For people with disabilities seeking employment and long-term careers, it provides opportunities in a wide array of occupations, often in careers not readily associated with the electricity sector.

EHRC’s newest project with the Government of Ontario under the EnAbling Change Program will see the organization focus on improving equity of access and supports for people with disabilities who work or wish to work in the Canadian electricity industry. In particular, through the various tools, education and communication outreach employed, the project seeks to create both national and provincial awareness as follows:

• create awareness that hiring people with disabilities is not only socially responsible, but good for business — increasing employee morale, productivity, innovation, profitability, organizational excellence, and the ability to retain talent

• provide employers with the education and training needed to overcome cultural barriers

• dispel myths and reduce risk-averse perspectives (e.g. high cost and the complex nature of disability-related accommodations, higher than usual sick time, safety issues, and low work output)

• put theory into practice and support employers as they move to ensure their workplace environments welcome, value and respects those with disabilities. This will include developing various tools and resources as part of an EHRC Resource Kit for Hiring and Retaining People with Disabilities in the Electricity Sector

• raise awareness of and leverage available resources and partnership to support employer-driven initiatives to recruit and retain employees with disabilities (e.g. employment service providers — March of Dimes, Specialisterne, JOIN, LiveWorkPlay — to present suitable candidates for electricity industry hiring needs)

Find out more: http://electricityhr.ca/our-work/projects-programmes/inclusion/.