Ernst & Young LLP (E&Y), a member of the National Business & Disability Council (NBDC), has recently been recognized as No. 1 in DiversityInc’s list of Top Ten Companies for People with Disabilities.
Not only is Ernst & Young LLP (E&Y) a global leader in assurance, tax, transaction and advisory services worldwide, but their 167,000 employees are also united by their shared values and an unwavering commitment to quality. They make a difference by helping their employees, clients and their wider communities achieve their full potential.
Ernst & Young’s strong commitment to helping people work more comfortably, efficiently and productively was exemplified when Ernst & Young became the first of the Big Four firms to sign the Business Taskforce on Accessibilities Technology (BTAT) Charter on November 20, 2011. With the signing of this Charter, accessibility is being embedded into their IT systems, confirming that the services and information they provide are accessible by all personnel.
Fulfilling and implementing the following obligations into their best practice policy initiatives has given them the well-deserved recognition as No. 1 amongst other global industry leaders. Here is why,
Ernst & Young:
– Has an active program to recruit people with disabilities.
– Has a website which mentions people with disabilities as a diverse segment of the workforce (i.e. in diversity
policy statement, resource groups, etc.), features images of people with disabilities in the workplace, and
develops plans to improve the accessibility of its recruiting processes.
– Has dedicated recruiters who focus on recruiting talent with disabilities.
– Works with disability recruiting organizations and/or state vocational rehabilitation.
– Ensures web site accessibility for candidates with disabilities.
– Performs disability training programs for recruiters, hiring managers and all employees.
In addition, Ernst & Young also encourages dialogue amongst diverse people as a way to promote understanding and build an inclusive culture. This effort extends to internal forums for people who have differing abilities, have family or friends with differing abilities, or who want to share ideas about improving their inclusive environment. Some of these include:
– Ernst & Young AccessAbilities™ — a network which provides guidance and raises awareness of workplace
issues affecting people with differing abilities.
– Abilities Champion Network — E&Y local and functional group representatives weave abilities-awareness
messages and educational materials into local communications, meetings and events.
– Network for Parents of Children with Special Health Care Needs — E&Y’s employee assistance program
sponsors this network, which holds confidential monthly network calls as well as calls for condition-specific
groups.
– Caregivers Circle — E&Y’s network which supports E&Y people who are helping care for adults (such as
parents), adult children or spouses who have health issues and/or differing abilities.
Ernst & Young also provides resources focusing on abilities-friendly etiquette, language and work habits and additionally, has been recognized as DiversityInc’s:
– No. 3 Company for LGBT Employees
– No. 4 Company for Global Diversity
– No. 8 Company for Executive Women
– No. 9 Company for Recruitment & Retention
For their accomplishments, Ernst & Young has advanced two spots from its 2012 ranking. This recognition marks two important milestones for the firm; its fifth consecutive year in the top 10, as well as its 10th appearance on the list to date — both demonstrating a continued momentum in diversity and inclusiveness efforts.
