Support for Employers
How you can help your new or returning employee
The evidence is indisputable – work is good for health and wellbeing
Returning to work or commencing new employment for our clients should be a societal expectation post injury. So as an employer what support can you access:
- Educational seminars for Employers (Large or SME); 1:1 or group based
- Joining the Business Advisory Committee
- Customised organisational information on-site or at our locations
- Consumer availability to speak to staff for motivational purposes
- Immediate access to information and support by picking up the phone
- Support in transitioning your injured employee back to work and providing support
One in five New Zealanders has a disability, so up to 20% of our population, so there are many people with a unique set of skills and perspectives that bring value to organisations, communities, and the economy. Of the spinal population we work with, most people require little to no extra support or investment to fulfil their role.
Two things that we know for sure at the NZ Spinal Trust, are that disabled people make great employees and that an accessible workplace is safer for everyone. As reported, since the inauguration of our Vocational Rehabilitation service (formerly called ‘Kaleidoscope’) in 2003, we have moved from 12.3% of spinal cord impaired clients being employed to 45.8%. With such statistics and our inclusive program our message to employers is ‘Why not enhance your profile, increase the statistics and be part of this!’
The NZ Spinal Trust’s Vocation Rehabilitation service aims to transform attitudes by working with organisations to support them when they ask what is possible in the employment arena when they hire a person with a spinal cord impairment.
Education will be made available to employers either within their organisation or as part of a wider community group, in a non-judgmental environment. A benefit being, that employers will have access to an untapped labour market which is willing, keen and able. You will also gain confidence in employing someone with a spinal cord injury, by having the opportunity to ask questions.
The topics that can be covered are:
- Basic Spinal Cord Injury (SCI) 101
- Why it is beneficial to employ people with disabilities (Spinal Cord Impairment) – an accessible workplace is safer for all staff and having disabled staff means more customers are better served
- Common questions/concerns of an employer
- Accessibility in the workplace
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“I have my whole life ahead of me and I’m keen to work because that is what living a normal life is all about.”
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Figure 1.
Benefits to a company when employing a person with a disability