Area Businesses Honored For Building Diverse, Inclusive Workforce
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The companies, recognized for developing leading programs that have been in place for five to 10 years, are Advanced Flexible Composite, in Adams, Big Y World Market, in Springfield, Jiminy Peak Mountain Resort, in Hancock, and Old Country Buffet, in Pittsfield.
“Across a range of diverse industries and through economic good times and tough times, these companies have remained steadfast in their commitment to hiring individuals with disabilities and supporting them with inclusive workplaces,” said Rick Hawes, project manager of the regional employment collaborative Partnerships in Employment.
“They are examples not only for the rest of the business community in the Berkshires, but leaders at the state and national levels as well. We’re grateful for their efforts as our communities strive to improve employment options for people with disabilities.”
Sen. Ben Downing, D-Pittsfield, spoke at the breakfast, endorsing and supporting not only the work of the collaborative but also the commitment of businesses in Berkshire County in hiring a truly inclusive and diverse workforce.
“All of these employers are to be commended for supporting our neighbors who are living with disabilities and ask only that they continue to be given the chance to participate in the workforce to the greatest extent of their abilities,” said Downing. “When one segment of our workforce grows stronger, our entire workforce grows stronger.”
In addition to the four leading honorees, 22 other businesses were recognized for their dedication and commitment to building inclusive workplaces over the past two to five years, said Hawes. Those companies are Adult Day Health’s Brien Center, Air-Tite Holders, Bagels Too, Berkshire Community College, Berkshire Food Project, Blue Q, Country Curtains, Crowne Plaza Hotels & Resorts, Dalton Community Recreation Association, George’s Liquor Store, Greylock Federal Credit Union, Guido’s Fresh Marketplace, Hancock Shaker Village, Interact Connect, Kripalu Center for Yoga & Health, Legacy Bank, Price Chopper, Prime Outlets, St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church, The Ponds at Foxhollow, YMCA – Camp Becket, and Wal-Mart.
Partnerships in Employment is a regional employment collaborative funded through Work Without Limits, a Massachusetts Disability Employment Initiative. Supported by a grant from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services to UMass Medical School, Work Without Limits supported the creation of five regional employment collaboratives to assist employers, employees and service providers.
Recent studies show that of Berkshire County’s working age population of roughly 83,000 adults ages 16 to 64, 17.8 percent had a disability, roughly equivalent to the statewide average of 17.5 percent. Statewide, there are nearly 500,000 men and women of working age who have disabilities. For this group, the employment rate has hovered at approximately less than half that of adults without disabilities, according to state officials.
“It’s clear that the Berkshires are building a critical mass of employers who understand the talent pool that can be drawn from people with disabilities who want to work, but too often need help to achieve that goal,” said Dr. Jay Himmelstein, the director of Work Without Limits and Professor of Family Medicine and Community Health and Internal Medicine at University of Massachusetts Medical School. “We know that employers need technical assistance and support as they develop inclusive human resource strategies. The role of employment collaboratives like Partners in Employment is to assist in making connections for companies, as well as individuals with disabilities looking to enter and succeed in the workforce.”
