Walgreens Earns Best Place to Work in 2019 Disability Equality Index
July 18 2019 - 7:00AM
Business Wire
National Recognition Spotlights Walgreens
Training and Job Readiness Programs
Walgreens for the third consecutive year has been recognized
with the top-score of 100 percent on the 2019 Disability Equality
Index® (DEI), a national benchmarking tool on corporate policies
and practices related to disability inclusion and workplace
equality.
The DEI is a joint initiative by Disability:IN and the American
Association of People with Disabilities (AAPD), and is considered
the most comprehensive benchmarking tool for corporate disability
inclusion developed by disability advocates and business
leaders.
“Employees with disabilities bring so much to organizations.
They help us foster collaboration and to better connect with
customers. They enhance overall employee engagement, and their
unique perspectives help us drive innovation,” said Carlos Cubia,
vice president and global chief diversity officer of Walgreens
Boots Alliance, Inc., Walgreens parent company. “Supporting and
employing those with disabilities is the right thing to do, and
it’s good business.”
The 2019 DEI inclusion criteria assessed culture and leadership;
enterprise-wide access; community engagement, supplier diversity
and employment practices.
“Companies recognized on the Disability Equality Index
demonstrate a proactive and thoughtful commitment to disability
inclusion,” said Jill Houghton, president and CEO of Disability:IN.
“Their actions should inspire other business leaders to create a
culture of inclusion that empowers people with disabilities to
thrive in the workplace. We all benefit from a society where
everyone can participate fully and meaningfully.”
Walgreens training and job readiness programs are decades-long
and considered models for other organizations:
- The Retail Employee Disability Initiative (REDI):
Established in 2010, Walgreens partners closely with publicly
funded community providers to recruit, train and hire people with
disabilities to work in Walgreens retail pharmacies. As of August
31, 2018, the REDI program has enrolled more than 1,600 trainees,
and of the externs who registered, 78 percent have completed the
training.
- The Transitional Work Group (TWG): As of August 31,
2018, seven Walgreens distribution centers and regional warehouses
in the U.S. run the TWG initiative. The 13-week TWG program,
initiated more than 10 years ago, develops and enhances
standardized training programs for the distribution centers,
establishes partnerships with state agencies and local nonprofits
to identify job candidates, and focuses on developing an inclusive
culture that fosters growth and development while increasing
knowledge among all employees about disabilities. Roughly 12
percent of employees at Walgreens distribution centers and regional
warehouses self-identified as disabled.
Walgreens also partners with community organizations to identify
opportunities to support hiring of people with disabilities:
- Since 2012, Walgreens has partnered with the Turning Pointe
Autism Foundation, an organization supporting individuals on the
autism spectrum and their families. Walgreens has hired more than
30 individuals from Walgreens Career College, a program for adults
impacted by autism looking for meaningful employment. At the
Turning Pointe location in Naperville, Illinois, Walgreens has
created a mock retail Walgreens store where students receive
training in various areas of retail and customer service before
working in actual pharmacy locations.
- Walgreens is in its second year of a partnership with The
Chicago Lighthouse, which supports blind, visually impaired,
disabled and veteran communities with vision care and support
services. Walgreens works with its field operations and The Chicago
Lighthouse to bring up to 10 students to work in Walgreens stores
for six-week externships. Following last year’s program, some of
the externs were extended employment opportunities with
Walgreens.
“Walgreens has been at the forefront of disability inclusion
efforts for many years,” said Carrie Provenzale, Turning Pointe’s
executive director. “Walgreens has created a best practice
environment in which our students can learn. And as a result, our
students have gained confidence and felt more prepared to enter the
workplace.”
Click here to learn more about Walgreens and Walgreens Boots
Alliance’s Corporate Social Responsibility agenda.
More information on the 2019 Disability Equality Index and the
full list of top companies can be found here:
www.DisabilityEqualityIndex.org.
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), the first global pharmacy-led, health and wellbeing
enterprise. Approximately 8 million customers interact with
Walgreens in stores and online each day, using the most convenient,
multichannel access to consumer goods and services and trusted,
cost-effective pharmacy, health and wellness services and advice.
As of Aug. 31, 2018, Walgreens operates 9,560 drugstores with a
presence in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico
and the U.S. Virgin Islands, along with its omni-channel business,
Walgreens.com. Approximately 400 Walgreens stores offer Healthcare
Clinic or other provider retail clinic services.
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Contact: Pam Morris Phone: 847-315-3316
pamela.morris@walgreens.com http://news.walgreens.com
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