Printer-Friendly Version
Email This Article
Public/Private Partnerships Fact Sheet
FAST FACTS is a joint publication between the U.S. Chamber's Center for Workforce
Preparation & VCU-RRTC on Workplace Supports: A Business Marketing Initiative
FastFactsOn...PUBLIC/PRIVATE PARTNERSHIPS
Private businesses partnering with public disability agencies will achieve success in
recruiting, hiring, training, and retaining qualified workers with disabilities.
FastFactsOn...
To Read in Full Text | PDF
The focus on hiring qualified employees with disabilities is, in fact, good for business. The return on investment to SunTrust can be measured in several ways: One, it helps in our diversity initiatives, building a strong workforce; two, it helps us to develop products and services, expanding our customer base; and three, it enables us to reach out to our entire community. It's good for our shareholders and it's good for business." C.T. Hill, chairman, president and chief executive officer, SunTrust MidAtlantic, Lead Company of the Virginia BLN
DID YOU KNOW?
- Companies in many industries report difficulty finding enough skilled workers to fill available jobs.
- People with disabilities are the largest source of untapped talent in today's labor force.
- There are many tax incentives available to businesses for training and hiring people with disabilities.
- Local vocational rehabilitation (VR) programs are a resource to help business in recruiting, hiring, training, and retaining of workers with disabilities.
- Business Leadership Networks (BLNs) are employer-led organizations that share innovative best practices in hiring and retaining people with disabilities. BLNs help employers meet current and future labor needs.
WHY PARTNERSHIPS?
Business needs skilled, qualified workers to fill its labor demands and grow into new markets. Rehabilitation programs need employment placements for their customers - people with disabilities. A strong partnership is a win-win situation. Private businesses partnering with public disability agencies will achieve success in recruiting, hiring, training, and retaining qualified workers with disabilities.
WHAT ARE THE PITFALLS TO A
PARTNERSHIP?
- Too much government jargon
- Government programs too slow or have too much paperwork
- Lack of understanding of the business culture
- Prior bad experiences
-
Disability is not seen as a business issue by employers
WHO BENEFITS FROM THE PARTNERSHIP?
Business Benefits
- Access to a wider range of qualified candidates
- Learn how to meet workers accommodation needs
- Reduced turnover and improved attendance of workers
- Diverse workforce
Rehabilitation Benefits
- Increased employment opportunities for people with
disabilities - Improved knowledge of business culture and needs
- Realistic skills training
- Enhanced customer satisfaction
HOW TO DEVELOP A PARTNERSHIP?
The Salisbury Area Chamber of Commerce in Maryland began working with the local VR program when the chamber sponsored a BLN. The chamber and VR regularly plan for the region's workforce needs.VR develops training and support programs and the result
is a steady pipeline of job-ready workers with disabilities - meeting the labor demands of the region.
Partnership Features
- Be available to provide support
- Earn trust by serving on committees
- Plan events or trainings together
- Figure out cost saving measures
- Sponsor a Business Leadership Network (BLN)
"Chambers can promote the mission of a Business Leadership
Network as a service to their membership. The chamber can
provide information, encouragement and support regarding
workforce diversity and marketing to the disability population. Just
these two areas of service can help business members in
recruitment and retention of labor and increase sales to the growing
population of people who have disabilities."
Jack Smith, Salisbury Area Chamber of Commerce
WORKING PARTNERSHIPS RESOURCES
Virginia Department of Rehabilitative Services (DRS), SunTrust
Bank, and Manpower, Inc.
- The DRS works closely with Manpower Inc. and
SunTrust Bank by providing dedicated personnel
called Business Development Mangers (BDM). - BDMs are active in the community learning about
businesses needs and teaching business about
DRS programs and services. - Manpower Inc., a Fortune 500 company connecting
people with disabilities with employment opportunities
for more than 12 years, stays on the
cutting edge of supply and demand to their employer-
customers. - SunTrust Bank has a readily available pipeline of
dependable and qualified workers.
"Our success as a disability-friendly business is directly
tied to our strategic long-term relationships developed
with the Virginia Department of Rehabilitative Services
(DRS) and Manpower, Inc. Both these organizations share
our commitment to increasing our talent pool by including
individuals with disabilities.
Katherine McCary, vice president, Human Resources,
SunTrust Bank and chair of the Virginia Business
Leadership Network (BLN)
Alabama Department of Rehabilitation Services (ADRS) and the
University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB)
-
The ADRS has developed a single point of contact
for employers. - Employer Development Coordinators (EDC) actively
share information in the business community
and coordinate services across the various community
rehabilitation programs.
- A partnership between ADRS and the UAB was
formed some 20 years ago. - UAB and ADRS now work together to provide timely
and aggressive employee intervention strategies
for University personnel whose jobs have been affected
by illness, injury or disability. - The focus of the partnership is to help the university
retain valued employees by tapping into the
disability management resources of ADRS.
Go to www.worksupport.com/biznet/index.html and click
on Public/Private partnerships under the Resource section
for additional examples.
Resources
- Alabama Department of Rehabilitation Services
Contact: Peggy Anderson, 205-290-4457
panderso@rehab.state.al.us - Virginia Department of Rehabilitative Services
Contact: Ethel Walker, 804-662-7000
walkerEF@drs.state.va.us
Private Sector
-
Center for Workforce Preparation
U.S. Chamber of Commerce,
Contact: Cathy Healy, 202-463-5970
chealy@uschamber.com - U.S. Business Leadership Network
Contact: Katherine McCary, 804-343-9571
katherine.mccary@suntrust.com
Center for Workforce Preparation
U.S. Chamber of Commerce
1615 H St., N.W.
Washington, D.C. 20062-2000
202-463-5525 VOICE; 202-463-5308 FAX
www.uschamber.com/cwp
YOUR GATEWAY TO EMPLOYMENT
FOR PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES
VCU-RRTC on Workplace Supports
1314 W. Main St.
Richmond, VA 23284-2011
804-828-1851 VOICE; 804-828-2494 TTY
804-828-2193 FAX
www.worksupport.com/biznet/index.html
Source: Fry, Ronald, (1997) (Ed.) Developing Effective Partnerships with Employer as a Service Delivery Mechanism. Resource and Training Center Continuing Education Center, Stout Vocational Rehabilitation Institute, Menomonie, Wisconsin.
Editors: Valerie Brooke, VCU-RRTC on Workplace Supports and Cathy Healy and Zanna Gilbert, Center for Workforce Preparation, U.S. Chamber of Commerce. Contributors: Peggy Anderson, Alabama Dept. of Rehabilitation Services; Howard Green, VCURRTC on Workplace Supports; University of Wisconsin-Stout, Institute on Rehabilitation Issues, May 1999 and Salisbury Chamber of Commerce, Salisbury Maryland. Layout & Design: Jeanne Robert
VCU School of Education and Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation is an equal opportunity/affirmative action institution and does not discriminate on the basis of race, gender, age, religion, ethnic origin, or disability. If special accommodations are needed, please contact Valerie Brooke at VOICE (804) 828-1851 or TTY (804) 828-2494. Funding for this product is provided by grant #H133B980036-02B with the National Institute on Disability Rehabilitation Research with the U.S. Department of Education,
Have a Question or Comment About This Article?
