Make AODA training count for more than compliance

So you are a human resources manager or a general manager of a company of 20 or more employees and you’ve figured out what you have to do to comply with the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA). In particular you know you have a responsibility to train employees and that you will be required to self-report. Hopefully your organization has performed a workplace assessment and created policies and procedures, and you are ready to roll out your accessibility program and training.

The best employers and proactive HR managers will go beyond just meeting the AODA training requirements. You can make the greatest impact for your employees and for your organization by using your AODA training as tool for increasing employee engagement. One way to do this is to carefully design and promote your organization’s AODA program as socially responsible corporate behaviour rather than simply as a compliance-driven reaction.

Thoughtful incorporation of AODA standards and effective AODA training can be linked to employee engagement. Corporate social responsibility (CSR), including sustainable business practices, is increasingly tied to employee expressions of engagement and alignment with the organization. Studies show that companies with high CSR values also score higher in employee engagement.

The best way to make the link between CSR and the AODA is a thoughtful and specific application of AODA standards and training to your industry. Taking the time to identify and develop practices unique to your company, clients and processes is a way to show your employees that accessibility for Ontarians with disabilities is part of your organization’s sustainable business practice. The more specific you can make your training, and the more directly you can link it to your vision and values as a company, the more value the training will have.

Some companies will be able to make the link more easily than others. For example, our retirement residence, our tag line, “The home with a heart,” can be linked to our expressed desire to employ best practices in serving residents and their visitors. If you can find this link for your organization and tie your AODA training to your organization’s socially responsible performance, you can make the most of your valuable training time. Training time is one of the most valuable assets to a company and is also highly valued by employees. Dig a little deeper to figure out how and why your organization really wants to be accessible for Ontarians with disabilities in a unique way. Make your AODA training count!

Please share some honest thoughts about accessibility and training.

If you are interested in learning more about Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA) or how to make accessibility a natural part of your business through the application of Corporate Social Responsibility, please contact Sandra Broekhof @ 416-579-1035 or sandra_broekhof@sympatico.ca or visit www.accessibilitycompliance.ca