Employers

Especially4U Catering & Restaurant Employer Story

Honored as an Outstanding Employer, Business Owner Shayann Jones shares her experience working with individuals who have disabilities.

Diversify Your Workforce

Finding qualified and dependable employees is one of the greatest challenges many business leaders face. People with disabilities have the talents, skills and abilities you need. They are dependable, enthusiastic and some of the most loyal employees you will find.

Many of America's finest companies seek and hire people with disabilities, and they have found it to be an appropriate and effective business move. Why not join them?

Resources to Get Started

• Request a meeting with a VR Business Relations Representative at VRBusinessRep@vr.fldoe.org
• Find disability resource information at The Florida Abilities Work Web Portal (abilitieswork.employflorida.com)
• Get additional help from the Abilities Work Help Desk, 844-245-3405 (toll-free)
• Access VR’s national talent pool of qualified individuals with disabilities at tapability.org

Benefits to Employers

• No cost for business services
• Reduce recruitment and training costs
• Reduce turnover costs with employees who tend to stay on the job longer
• See if the job and your business are a good fit with the potential employee with VR’s On-the-Job Training
• Receive Federal tax incentives, when available, for employers who hire individuals with disabilities into permanent positions
• Create more efficient work processes, like Walgreens and A&F Woods Company did when they provided accommodations for their workers with disabilities and experienced an overall increase in productivity
• Increase revenues by having a workplace that reflects the customers you serve. Employing people with disabilities helps generate revenues by allowing you to tap into the disability market, build brand trust and loyalty, and create new products and services.

Employers Agree

"I would say honestly if it’s the right person give them a shot. Don’t think their disability is going to be extra time or a burden because in reality it hasn’t put any extra burden on us at all." -- Hunter Hardt, Assistant General Manager, Homewood Suites by Hilton

"A person with a disability is often more loyal and dedicated; you can count on them to come to work. It's more than a good business practice; it's the best thing to do for my business." -- Joel Hullet, General Manager, Wal-Mart

"You get so much more out of it [hiring people with disabilities] than any amount of money. You can't buy that kind of feeling. It's so rewarding." -- Linda Nunes, T.J. Maxx

On-the-Job Training

On-the-Job Training is an opportunity for you, the employer, to mentor a person with a disability. By participating in OJT, you have the opportunity to see if the job and your business are a good fit with the trainee.

VR may provide:

• Reimbursement for the trainee’s salary
• Support services (uniforms, tools, bus passes)
• Job-site assessment and any needed accommodations
• We offer Workers' Compensation coverage for adult and youth work experience participants

In addition, federal tax credits may be available to employers who hire individuals with disabilities into permanent positions. To become an OJT employer, fill out the On-the-Job Training Application for Vendors (PDF).

VR PSA about hiring people with disabilities

Additional Resources

Job Accommodation Network (JAN)
The Job Accommodation Network (JAN) is a free consulting service that provides information about job accommodations, the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), and the employability of people with disabilities.

Employer Assistance and Resource Network on Disability Inclusion (EARN)
The Employer Assistance and Resource Network on Disability Inclusion (EARN) helps employers recruit, hire, retain, and advance people with disabilities. Its website provides information on recruiting and hiring, retention and advancement, laws and regulations, creating an accessible and welcoming workplace, and federal contractor requirements. It also offers a variety of resources to help state and federal government agencies make their workforces more inclusive and reflective of the citizens they serve.