To celebrate World Kindness Day, which takes place on the 15th of November 2024, FIT have put together some important tips to help highlight the importance of kindness in the workplace, and to create more inclusive workplaces.
These tips are brought to you as part of the Cuimsiú Programme, an initiative set up to support disabled, specifically neurodivergent candidates, on their pathway to employment, while also supporting employers. The FIT Cuimsiú Programme is funded by Pobal as part of the WorkAbility: Inclusive Pathways to Employment Programme.
Did you know?
22% of the Irish Population are people with disabilities (DSP, 2017). When employers think about disability, they think mostly about physical disabilities (BANDA, 2021). When in fact, the vast majority of disabled people have a non-visible disability such as dyslexia, autism, a mental health difficulty or an ongoing medical condition.
Become a more inclusive employer:
Employers can start building a more inclusive workplace right from the recruitment, interview and onboarding stages. Here are 5 top tips for employers:
- Send candidates the interview questions before the interview takes place, to help candidates be as prepared as possible beforehand.
- Ask candidates for their accessibility requirements and make them feel at ease.
- Conduct virtual interviews in a quiet and well-lit space
- During the onboarding process, employers should schedule regular check-ins for the first one to two months on the job to ensure the new hire is settling in
- Set up a mentor or buddy system can help provide the new employee with a better understanding of the company
If you would like more tips on becoming a more inclusive employer, or if you would like to know more about the Cuimsiu Programme – then contact info@fit.ie
