Minnesota employers who have made exceptional efforts in hiring and retaining people with disabilities were honored at an Employers Hiring People with Disabilities Month event on October 10th. The Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED) recognized the employers below for their efforts and invited them to share their hiring and retention best practices so that they could, in turn, be shared with other Minnesota employers.
The 27 employers honored at the October 10th event were asked to share examples of the creative hiring practices they have used to attract employees with disabilities and successfully fill openings at their companies. Some employers offer new employees a trial period in which to try different jobs and find the best fit. Others provide flexibility so that people can arrange work schedules to accommodate their transportation or other needs.
The companies were also asked to share their reflections on the intangible benefits their businesses have experienced as a result of hiring employees with disabilities. The employers noted that hiring people with disabilities has created a more diverse culture, with all employees learning to look at work and processes from a different perspective. One employer noted that people with disabilities have brought joy and kindness to the workplace.
They also shared how their businesses have reaped very tangible results of employing people with disabilities. One example: decreased employee turnover and increased company loyalty. One manufacturing employer at the event noted how his business saw the turnover rate in one department fall from 72% to 7% because of a greater focus on hiring people with disabilities — and another employer stressed that the minimal costs of accessibility accommodations are far less expensive than turnover costs.
DEED Commissioner Steve Grove and Assistant Commissioner for Workforce Services Carol Pankow also asked the employers what DEED could do to better support businesses in hiring people with disabilities. We’ll share feedback gathered at this event after we’ve had a chance to compile and analyze all the great input we received.
Honored Employers
- American Engineering Testing, Inc.
- Boston Scientific
- Caddie U
- Children's Hospital and Clinics
- Cub Foods
- Delaware North
- Ecolab
- Enterprise
- Fed Ex
- Hyatt Hotel Minneapolis
- HyVee Inc.
- JEM Technical
- Kwik Trip
- Larson Engineering, Inc.
- Mackin Educational Resources
- Mayo Clinic
- Medica
- Minneapolis VA Health Care System
- MN Department of Transportation
- MnIT
- Pitney Bowes
- S & L Cleaning
- Second Swing
- Shutterfly
- MN Attorney General’s Office
- Touchstone Mental Health
- Travelers Insurance
