“Ensuring business-led inclusivity of disabled consumers and employees alike is no longer an invitation”
Regardless of their products or services, all employers should be striving for a workforce that is representative of the communities and customers they serve in order to gain a better understanding of how to meet the needs of their customer base.
In May 2023 Boston Consulting Group (BCG) surveyed nearly 28,000 employees in 16 countries of which 25% of respondents said they have a disability or health condition that limits a major life activity. This is also in line with the CDC’s findings that 27% of adults in the US have some type of disability.
According to a Glassdoor survey, 76% of jobseekers evaluate a potential employer’s diversity when researching a possible career; to reach the 25% of global talent with disabilities, consider the importance of communicating your Disability Inclusion efforts to your stakeholders.
Paul Polman, Former CEO of Unilever explains that “Ensuring business led inclusivity of disabled consumers and employees alike is no longer an invitation…Without standardized, publicly disclosed data, it is nearly impossible to create meaningful change, as there is no benchmark to measure against. Business leaders have the power to rectify this glaring inequality themselves — and they must take on the responsibility with urgency.”
At Windō, in partnership with Disability:IN, the world’s leading nonprofit on disability inclusion, we believe reporting on disability representation and initiatives sets a benchmark for excellence in corporate social responsibility. This transparency allows stakeholders to see the company’s commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging.
Our mission is to elevate organizations that act on their values. We encourage all organizations to prioritize impactful transparency and are encouraged by legislative modernization in the EU that will create stronger disability transparency for companies around the world. By connecting talent with like minded companies, we emphasize the importance of honest reporting. It’s about more than attracting talent it’s about fostering an environment where everyone can thrive.
The Disability Transparency Tiles 2024 spotlights the 45 most transparent organisations when it comes to reporting on disability representation and inclusion. This comprehensive study draws on data from over 600 of the largest US and European companies tracked on Windō and underscores the growing importance of disability transparency in the corporate world.
Ken Janssens & Oli Coles
Co-Founders @ Windō