The American Association of People with Disabilities and Disability:in, which empowers businesses to achieve disability inclusion and equality, have recognized the top companies that demonstrate workplace inclusivity for people with disabilities. The Disability Equality Index is a comprehensive benchmarking tool for Fortune 1000 businesses to take necessary actions to create an inclusive space.
It scores companies on a scale of 0 to 100, with those earning 80 or more recognized as “Best Places to Work for Disability Inclusion.” The DEI considers how the following aspects empower people with disabilities: culture & leadership, enterprise-wide access, employment practices, community engagement, supplier diversity, and non-U.S. operations.
Food companies that scored 100 include:
• Amazon
• Colgate-Palmolive Company
• IFF
• Kroger
• Land O’Lakes
• Meijer
• Nestlé USA
• PepsiCo
• Starbucks
• Target
• UNFI
• Unilever USA
• Walmart
“After near-constant disruption from the global pandemic, uncertain economic conditions, and ongoing labor shortages, today’s corporations have demonstrated resilience and creativity as they strive to make their workplaces better for everyone,” reads the executive summary of the report.
The DEI notes that a score of 100 does not mean “perfect,” rather it means that it adheres to many inclusion practices featured in the index, highlighting that there is no one right way to practice inclusion.
The food companies that scored 90 or 80 are as follows:
• Conagra Brands (Birds Eye, Marie Callenders, Reddi-wip, Vlasic, etc.)
• General Mills
• The Coca-Cola Company
The report notes that, due to the pandemic, companies now recognize broader wellness initiatives for both physical and mental health and are implementing programs as a form of disability affirmation and inclusion. Of the companies listed in the 2022 DEI, 96 percent offer their employees flexible work environments, and 84 percent offer additional wellness benefits.
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