New Data from Inclusively and The Creative Ladder Reveal Challenges Around Workplace Accommodations in Creative Industries
July 16 2024 - 8:00AM
Business Wire
The joint data found almost 60% of employees
have a disability-related issue and more than half do not know how
to disclose to their employer
Inclusively, the leading SaaS platform that provides companies
with a universal approach to supporting employees accommodations,
benefits and support needs, in partnership with The Creative
Ladder®, a nonprofit dedicated to making creative careers more
accessible and inclusive, announced the launch of a joint research
study to uncover how employers can better navigate accessibility
and inclusion in the creative industry.
The Empowering Rising Leaders report investigates the employee
experience from the perspective of The Creative Ladder’s Rising
Leaders members to learn about the unique experiences and issues
those within the first ten years of their careers face. The data
helps to guide programming, support and further inquiry.
Unfortunately, most employees today don’t know how to find the
support and resources they need to thrive in their jobs. Regardless
of industry or company size, it’s the responsibility of employers
to ask every employee what they need to be successful, especially
those from underrepresented communities and individuals with
disabilities.
Some of the most critical findings from the Empowering Rising
Leaders report include:
- People with disabilities are all around the workplace, and
you might not know it – Nearly 60% of respondents identify with
having a disability.
- Many who identify with having a disability refrain from
disclosing – Of the respondents who reported mental health
conditions, only 15% requested accommodations at work.
- The accommodations process is difficult and disjointed –
Nearly half of the respondents who requested accommodations said
the process was difficult and not standardized. And more than half
of those who haven’t requested say they don’t know how to start the
process.
- Employees don’t feel supported by their employers – Of
respondents receiving accommodations, almost one-third said their
input was not valued as part of the accommodation process. Of this
same group, 30% said their employer never contacted them during the
accommodation process.
“It’s clear that employers need tools to improve the
accommodations process at scale, and right now we’re looking at the
creative industry – folks in advertising, marketing, film and
more,” said Charlotte Dales, CEO and Co-founder of Inclusively.
“Partnerships like ours with The Creative Ladder are how we really
drive awareness at the corporate and Board level to drive change
and hopefully get to a place where 100% of employees can navigate,
access, find and benefit from accommodations in their workplace
experience.”
"I am both moved and motivated by the significance of these
findings. It’s clear that people with disabilities are prevalent in
our workplaces, yet their needs and voices often go unnoticed,”
said Dionna Dorsey, CEO and Co-founder of The Creative Ladder. "The
difficulties and lack of standardization in the accommodations
process, along with the lack of employer support, highlight an
urgent need for change."
“We are committed to partnering with like minded partners like
Inclusively and dedicated to fostering inclusive environments where
every individual feels seen, heard, and supported,” continued
Dorsey. “These insights underscore the importance of proactive and
compassionate efforts to ensure that all employees can thrive and
contribute their best work."
For leaders in creative industries looking to learn more and
better understand accessibility, accommodations and inclusion in
the workplace, download the full Empowering Rising Leaders report
here, and register for our webinar here, which will feature Dr.
Marcus Collins along with The Creative Ladder CEO Dionna Dorsey and
Inclusively Co-founder & COO Sarah Bernard. The webinar will
delve into the report finding and collectively explore solutions
organizations can adapt to better serve their employees.
Report Methodology
Inclusively utilized its Employee Experience Assessment Survey
(EEAS) to capture insights around Rising Leaders’ experience with
workplace accommodations. The EEAS, a proprietary data collection
tool, captures sentiments of the workplace experience from both
employees and managers, while ensuring privacy and compliance with
company policies. To execute the research initiative effectively,
The Creative Ladder enlisted the assistance of its extensive
database of Rising Leaders, who are within the first decade of
their career and self-identify as part of an underrepresented
group. These Rising Leaders were invited to participate anonymously
in Inclusively’s EEAS. The use of The Creative Ladder’s database
provided a diverse representation of perspectives encompassing
individuals from varied demographic backgrounds and organizational
roles generally working in the advertising and marketing
industries. A total of 83 respondents engaged with the survey,
providing anonymized responses for analysis.
About The Creative Ladder
Co-founded by actor/business owner Ryan Reynolds, entrepreneur
Dionna Dorsey and veteran Adweek journalist David Griner, The
Creative Ladder is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit dedicated to making
creative careers more accessible and inclusive. Through in-person
and virtual programs, The Creative Ladder seeks to connect, elevate
and inspire the next generation of creative leaders from
underrepresented backgrounds.
About Inclusively
Inclusively’s technology platform empowers companies to improve
productivity and retention while fostering inclusive workplaces.
Our AI solution helps employers adopt a universal approach to
accommodations that easily integrates into existing operations. We
also support companies who are learning to adapt to the increasing
demands around workplace flexibility and the personalization of
existing employees through our technology platform and our
professional services. A few of Inclusively’s valued clients
include Delta Air Lines, Lyft, Accenture, Applied Systems, Discord,
UL Solutions, RAPP, WellLife Network, and more.
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version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240716064142/en/
Contact Information for The Creative Ladder Lisa A. Baker
lisa@creativeladder.org
Contact Information for Inclusively Samantha Stone
sam@presshook.com