Pathways Abilities Society can help you improve your business’s bottom line while becoming an inclusive and diverse workplace.

There are currently over 640,000 Canadians with diverse abilities searching for employment, but are often overlooked and struggle to secure a position, even though they are well-known for their strong work ethic and eagerness to work. It’s an incredible untapped opportunity.

Businesses with inclusive cultures are twice as likely to meet or exceed financial targets and eight times more likely to achieve better outcomes than other businesses that are less diverse, according to statistics from the Government of Canada.

It begs the question: Why have so many businesses been slow to hire inclusively and create employment opportunities for individuals with diverse abilities?

Pathways Abilities Society

What many businesses don’t know is that employing individuals from this group of enthusiastic workers is a fantastic opportunity to increase productivity, streamline operational efficiencies, boost employee morale, earn customer respect and appreciation while benefiting financially.

That’s where Pathways comes in, a Kelowna non-profit that is on a mission to educate the community and create more jobs for individuals with diverse abilities by working directly with businesses to customize positions. 

Most employers don’t know that roles for individuals with diverse abilities likely already exist in their workplace. In fact, many don’t realize that most customized employment plans only require a commitment of as little as a few hours a week.

“For example, Pathways worked with a local real estate firm that was relying on its realtors to manage the recycling around the office. It was a job that was taking their realtors away from selling homes, which directly impacted sales,” says Adam Less, who contracts to Pathways to help spread the word for the non-profit among local business owners.

“Pathways worked with their office to create a customized employment plan for one of our individuals and now he goes in for a few hours each week and does the recycling. He loves his job, the realtors are thrilled, the company’s productivity has improved… It was just a practical business move that’s worked for everyone.”

“There are literally so many different roles individuals with diverse abilities fill, from working in the hospitality to the tech sector,” Less continues. 

Photo Credit: Pathways Abilities Society

It’s a smart business philosophy that the federal government encourages nationwide. 

According to the Government of Canada, if we begin tapping into this overlooked segment of the labour force and employ just over half a million Canadians with diverse abilities, our national GDP will increase by almost $17 billion by 2030.

Including individuals with diverse abilities in your search for employees greatly expands the pool of available labour, especially during times when we are seeing shortages that continue to decrease. 

Pathways in Kelowna works directly with each employer to identify tasks that can be done by an individual with diverse abilities, create a position and job description, help find an employee and provide support as needed. 

Customized employment is a win-win that is more than altruism. It’s just smart business.

To learn more and connect with a fresh pool of skilled workers keen to find employment, contact em@pathwayskelowna.ca and get involved.