These days all entrepreneurs know that the best way to improve their company is to make their team as diverse as possible. By bringing people from different backgrounds on board, company owners can ensure that there is a lot of different ideas being brought to the table. This will help the business stay creative and productive.
How is your team’s diversity? One area in which some companies are lacking is their employment of people with disabilities. Disabled people are often shut out of working for certain companies because of the poor accessibility of the workplace. It can be easy to improve your office’s accessibility, though, and ensure your team is as diverse as possible. Here’s how.
Bring In Suitable Furniture And Equipment
Disabled employees might not be able to use the same furniture and equipment as other employees. So, it’s important to invest in items that are suitable. One idea is to add a caster to small tables so that they can be turned into trolleys. That way, they can be wheeled up to a worker who might have mobility problems and would otherwise struggle to reach the table. Don’t forget that you might need to buy special desks for anyone who is in a wheelchair as their chair might not fit under a regular sized desk.
Add A Disabled Parking Space
Accessibility doesn’t just start as soon as you step into the office. You also need to consider how accessible your company’s car park is if you have one. If you don’t already have a disabled parking space, it’s a good idea to add one. Ideally, it should be as close to the main entrance as possible and be extra wide so that the car doors can be open as wide as possible. Disabled workers who struggle with mobility might struggle to get in and out of a vehicle if there is limited room.
Offer Flexible Working Hours
Disabled employees may not be able to work the full office day from nine to five. Because of this, special accommodations may need to be made for them. It’s a good idea to offer them flexi-time so that they can come into work whenever they want, just as long as they carry out the full amount of hours they are contracted to do. This will also make things easier for them if they have to regularly attend doctor appointments.
Add A Stairlift
If your office is on the first floor or higher, it might only be accessible by stairs. This is especially the case in old office blocks that weren’t built with lifts. This is going to be a big issue for anyone in a wheelchair. The easiest way around it is to add a stairlift. Don’t worry about the cost of this lift, as it can be filed as a business expense.
Hopefully, all of these tips make your office a more welcoming and friendlier place for any disabled employees who you might employ in the future. Making an office accessible doesn’t have to be hard!
