Written by: Cameron Stockdale, President and CEO, Work Wellness Institute

As we transition out of the global pandemic to new ways of operating against a backdrop of an uncertain global economic outlook, workplaces are implementing strategies to ensure they can continue to conduct business in a rapidly changing environment.

One strategy often touted by organizations is to suggest “we employ people for their skills and talent”, or “we hire the best qualified candidate for the job”. This statement implies that as an organization they have sought talent from a wide and varied pool of candidates, and yet data shows that the 25% of Canadians who are living with a disability are vastly underemployed. The obvious explanation is that companies are selecting candidates from a limited pool of potential employees when trying to find the best candidate. The benefit of focusing on hiring a more diverse and inclusive workforce not only opens companies to a significant untapped workforce and customer base but becomes a clear strategy for organizational growth and resilience.

This article was written for 2021 Summer Safety Scene Magazine.