HUMAN RESOURCES CONSIDERATIONS
Human Resources Best Practices
Most literature on workers with disabilities in the hospitality industry revolves around
accommodating the needs of customers with disabilities. Even though best practices
for employing people with disabilities are easily found in literature, surveyed
companies practiced them infrequently or not at all.
43 Below, the best practices for
employing people with disabilities are summarized.
Recruitment:
• If resources are available, companies should actively recruit people with
disabilities by reaching out to various agencies and groups within community.
• Hospitality companies should utilize employment agencies because they are a
good source for pre-screened, qualified candidates with disabilities. They
offer valuable services like on-the-job coaches to help during the training and
initial evaluation process.
• Small and large companies alike should include disabilities in their corporate
diversity plans because top management support is a driving factor for
increasing the employment of people with disabilities.
Hiring:
• Employers need to acknowledge the impact of stereotypes and “take the ‘dis’
out of disability and focus on the abilities” of the candidates.
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• By realizing that the majority of accommodations are free or low-cost,
hospitality companies will be less reluctant to hire people with disabilities.
• Human resources professionals should collaborate with union leaders in the
event that a reasonable accommodation may alter the terms and conditions of
employment. Companies that hire front-line employees based on physical