Walgreens Earns Best Place to Work on 2020 Disability Equality Index
July 16 2020 - 6:05AM
Business Wire
National Recognition Spotlights Walgreens
Training and Job Readiness Programs for People with
Disabilities
Walgreens has been recognized for the fourth consecutive year
with a top score of 100 percent on the 2020 Disability Equality
Index® (DEI), a joint initiative by Disability:IN and the American
Association of People with Disabilities (AAPD).
The DEI is considered the most comprehensive benchmarking tool
for corporate disability inclusion and was developed by disability
advocates and business leaders. Walgreens, and its parent company
Walgreens Boots Alliance, have a longstanding commitment to
integrating people with disabilities across various aspects of the
business.
“This honor affirms our commitment to ensuring that people with
disabilities are a priority in our search for talent, that we are
creating a workplace culture where everyone has equal access to
opportunity and that we’re reflecting the communities we serve,”
said Carlos Cubia, vice president and global chief diversity
officer of Walgreens Boots Alliance, Inc. “Empowering people with
disabilities in the workplace is not only the right thing to do,
it’s good for business.”
In 2019, 19.3 percent of persons in the U.S. with a disability
were employed.1 In contrast, the employment-population ratio for
persons without a disability was 66.3 percent.2 The 2020 DEI
inclusion criteria assessed culture and leadership; enterprise-wide
access; community engagement, supplier diversity and employment
practices.
“The best way to attract, retain and grow talent with
disabilities is to create an accessible, inclusive workplace,” said
Jill Houghton, president & chief executive officer,
Disability:IN. “This year’s top scoring Disability Equality Index
companies are demonstrating their commitment to many of the
numerous leading disability inclusion practices featured in the
DEI, recognizing that there’s still room for improvement. We are
proud to have developed strong partnerships with corporate allies
who are committed to advancing disability inclusion and equality
across their businesses in the United States and around the
world.”
Walgreens is being recognized for its Transitional Work Group
(TWG) program and the Retail Employees with Disabilities Initiative
(REDI), which are designed to train potential hires, with the goal
of hiring them for Walgreens stores and distribution centers once
training is completed. Both programs are considered models for
other companies. About 12% of employees at Walgreens distribution
centers self-identify as having a disability.
- The 11-plus-year TWG program trains employees with disabilities
to work at Walgreens distribution centers and regional warehouses.
Earlier this year, TWG expanded to a ninth U.S. distribution center
location.
- For its part, REDI offers training for potential positions in
Walgreens stores, from working cash registers to stocking shelves.
Through partnerships with community providers, REDI has expanded to
over 270 stores in 37 states with over 1,400 trainees, as of August
2019. Graduates of the program can pursue job opportunities with
Walgreens and other retailers as well.
Community providers play an integral role in Walgreens
disability employment initiatives. Eleven years ago, Viability, a
national nonprofit agency, helped Walgreens launch TWG:
“Walgreens has been at the forefront of disability inclusion
efforts for many years,” said Carla Gaouette, Viabilty’s chief
innovation division officer. “Our partnership with Walgreens has
supported hundreds of people with disabilities nationally, helping
them to find meaningful work and a sense of personal fulfillment
and independence.”
To further support employees with disabilities, Walgreens’
Diversity & Inclusion division partners with the Disability
Inclusion business resource group (BRG) to address workplace
culture and education. In coordination with the Talent Acquisition
team, the BRG also focuses on attracting job candidates. A similar
BRG group has been established in WBA’s UK operations.
To learn more about Walgreens Boots Alliance’s Diversity &
Inclusion efforts and Corporate Social Responsibility agenda, click
here.
More information on the 2020 Disability Equality Index and the
full list of top companies can be found here.
About Walgreens
Walgreens (walgreens.com), one of the nation's largest drugstore
chains, is included in the Retail Pharmacy USA Division of
Walgreens Boots Alliance, Inc. (Nasdaq: WBA), a global leader in
retail and wholesale pharmacy. Walgreens is proud to be a
neighborhood health, beauty and retail destination supporting
communities across the country, and was named to FORTUNE*
magazine’s 2019 Companies that Change the World list. Approximately
8 million customers interact with Walgreens in stores and online
each day. As of August 31, 2019, Walgreens operates 9,277
drugstores with a presence in all 50 states, the District of
Columbia, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands, along with its
omnichannel business, Walgreens.com. Walgreens also provides
specialty pharmacy and mail services and offers in-store clinics
and other health care services throughout the United States, most
of which are operated by our health care strategic partners.
*© 2020, Fortune Media IP Limited. Used under license.
1 U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
https://www.dol.gov/general/topic/disability/statistics 2 U.S.
Bureau of Labor Statistics
https://www.dol.gov/general/topic/disability/statistics
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Pamela Morris 224-419-0375 media@walgreens.com
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