Disability Charter updated to help change the way we think about workplace talent
- The second edition of the Employers’ Disability Charter has been launched by the Guernsey Employment Trust.
- The Charter aims to foster inclusive and accessible workplaces for disabled and neurodivergent individuals.
- It outlines eight commitments for employers, including inclusive recruitment and guaranteed interviews for disabled applicants.
- The updated Charter reflects evolving legal obligations and greater awareness of disability issues since its first launch in 2017.
The Guernsey Employment Trust has officially launched the second edition of the Employers’ Disability Charter, which aims to create inclusive and accessible workplaces for disabled and neurodivergent individuals in the island.
The updated Charter outlines eight specific commitments that employers pledge to uphold, highlighting the importance of inclusivity in recruitment and employment practices.
GET's Chief Executive, Nikki Ioannou-Droushiotis, said: "The Charter is about changing the way we think about talent and building workplaces that thrive on difference."
The second edition reflects advancements in awareness and practice surrounding disability inclusion, while also serving as a framework for further progress.
The eight commitments outlined in the Charter include actions such as encouraging applications from disabled individuals, implementing inclusive recruitment practices, and guaranteeing interviews for disabled candidates who meet minimum job criteria.
Additional commitments involve providing ongoing training for managers to support disabled employees effectively.
The first edition of the Charter was launched in 2017, prior to the introduction of discrimination legislation in Guernsey.
At that time, the Charter served as an aspirational guide for employers.
However, following the implementation of clear legal responsibilities, the second edition aims to assist employers in not only meeting regulatory requirements but exceeding them through practical and meaningful workplace strategies.
In addition to improved legal standards, the evolution of language surrounding disability, including terms like neurodiversity, has become more commonplace, further supporting the need for an updated Charter.
The GET believes that these changes in law and societal understanding provide the opportune moment for the second edition's release.
Founding members who have signed the Charter represent a variety of sectors, including aviation, finance, healthcare, and retail.
The commitments of the Charter include:
1. Encouraging applications from disabled individuals.
2. Implementing inclusive recruitment practices throughout hiring processes.
3. Guaranteeing interviews for disabled applicants who meet minimum criteria.
4. Continuously improving accessibility and support for disabled individuals in the workplace.
5. Anticipating and providing reasonable adjustments for employees.
6. Offering disabled individuals opportunities to develop workplace skills through work experience and practice interviews.
7. Providing ongoing training to managers and supervisors for effective support of disabled employees.
8. Becoming ambassadors for disability inclusion within their communities.
GET invites all employers in Guernsey to join in signing the Charter as a demonstration of their commitment to diversity and inclusion in the workplace.
To learn more and to sign up for the Charter, interested parties can visit www.get.org.gg/employers/charter, email info@get.org.gg, or call 01481 247999.
The goal is to make Guernsey a place where every individual's talents are acknowledged, respected, and valued.
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