Four Practices Critical to Retaining Workers with Disabilities: EEOC
New research identified some of the practices that may help the federal government retain more workers with disabilities.
The report, from the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), reviewed retention rates from fiscal year (FY) 2020, and compared them with 156 practices required for federal agencies to have model EEO programs. Data was used from three years of EEOC Management Directive 715 reports, which require agencies to regularly review whether their employment practices are hampering any groups from advancement.
Researchers found that retention was better in fiscal year (FY) 2020 when agencies instituted the following:
Established disability reasonable accommodation (RA) procedures that comply with the EEOC’s regulations and guidance as of FY 2020.
Posted procedures for processing requests for personal assistance services (PAS) on the agency’s public website as of FY 2019.
Established procedures for processing requests for PAS that comply with EEOC's regulations, enforcement guidance, and other applicable executive orders, guidance, and standards as of FY 2020.
Posted procedures for processing PAS requests on the agency’s public website as of FY 2020.
“As a model employer, the federal government greatly benefits from including persons with disabilities in its workforce,” said EEOC Office of Federal Operations associate director Dexter Brooks. “This research shows the effectiveness of laws and regulations that make the workplace accessible to persons with disabilities. The promising practices identified can help federal agencies retain valuable talent.”
EEOC also noted the findings support the EEOC’s 2017 final rule requiring the federal government to provide personal assistance services to persons with disabilities. That personal assistance can include helping employees eat, use the bathroom, or change clothes. It does not include medical services.
The report comes after prior research noted that the federal government struggled in retaining workers with disabilities.
Based on these findings, the EEOC recommends that agencies ensure they do the following:
Establish compliant RA procedures.
Establish compliant procedures for processing PAS requests.
Have procedures for processing PAS requests publicized to their employees and applicants on their public website.
The report was released on the 51st anniversary of Section 501 of the Rehabilitation Act, which protects persons with disabilities from discrimination in federal employment.
