Contact: Merritt T. Carey, 207-828-4882 or merritt@graffamsolutions.com; www.ExpandingMainesWorkforce.com
New Business Initiative Seeks to Expand
Employment Opportunities
Working Together, a coalition of Maine businesses seeking to increase the employment of people with disabilities, has launched an initiative to create a business-to-business network. The group hopes that businesses can use the network to share information and resources about employing people with disabilities. The initiative was presented at two Maine business events: the Maine Businesses for Social Responsibility's 13th Annual Spring Sustainable Business Conference in Freeport, and the Maine Human Resource Convention in Rockland.
Working Together's message is simple: Employing people with disabilities makes good business sense.
"As
businesses, we need to look forward," says Merritt Carey of GraffamSolutions,
business partner liaison for Working Together. "Maine has the oldest
population in the country and we have veterans returning from Iraq and
Afghanistan who will be seeking employment. We need to make the most of our
current workforce and plan for future
workforce
shortages by tapping into the pool of highly qualified people with disabilities."
As the nation's demographics change, expanding employment of people with disabilities has been getting attention at the national and state levels. In Maine, Governor Baldacci has been supportive. "Maine businesses need a competitive workforce in order to prosper in the global economy," said the Governor. "We need to ensure that every Mainer who wants to work is able to contribute their talents and succeed to his or her fullest potential."
A number of well-known businesses have signed on as partners in the Working Together initiative, including L.L. Bean, MEMIC, Stonewall Kitchens, and Coffee by Design. Catherine Lamson, Vice-President for Human Resources at MEMIC, is a strong supporter of the Working Together effort. "There is a cost-benefit to it—turnover is down, productivity stays constant, and absenteeism for the most part with disabled people is minimal."
Using research and experience, members hope to dispel some common misconceptions about expenses and liabilities, in addition to highlighting the many benefits, such as low turnover costs.
But more than anything, Working Together hopes to bring Maine businesses into its new business-to-business network so that employers can learn from each other and improve their hiring and retention of employees with disabilities. "Being part of Working Together's business network allows employers to be proactive in shaping Maine's business landscape," said Carey. "We believe employer involvement now exemplifies forward and creative thinking as well as good business strategy."
For more information, or to become a business partner, please contact:
Merritt Carey, Working Together's business partner liaison, at (207) 828-4882 or visit our website: www.ExpandingMainesWorkforce.com.