In This Issue:
- Message from the Commissioner
- Employment or Health Care? Your Employees Don't Have to Choose
- Emergency Preparedness for Employees with Disabilities
- Keep Off-Site Workers Connected
- FEATURE: Most Workers Underestimate Chances, Impact of Disability
- New On-Line Video: Great Hires!
- Help Us, Help You!
Message from the Commissioner...
Greetings and welcome to the Summer edition of Business Matters!
Governor Kaine recently announced that CNBC, the leading financial news cable channel, designated Virginia as its "Top State for Business" This comes just three days after he announced that Forbes.com awarded Virginia with a similar "Best State for Business" designation for the second consecutive year. It is obvious that, in Virginia, we are serious about supporting our businesses and working together to create a positive business climate conducive to both employers and employees.
Although "disability employment services" was not one of the ranked areas in the above two studies, the Department of Rehabilitative Services (DRS) takes very seriously the opportunity to support businesses by providing qualified workers to meet the increasing demands for skilled labor. DRS has had a long history of working with employers and connecting them to an untapped labor pool of skills and talent found in people with disabilities. Through this partnership, Virginia employers - large and small - have witnessed first-hand the positive effects that hiring people with disabilities can bring to their bottom line of business.
During last October's "National Disability Employment Awareness Month," our agency had the opportunity to publicly recognize and honor some of DRS' stellar business partners with our first-ever "Disability Employment Champion Awards." Our 2006 Champion recipients included Governor Kaine for his support for Virginia's Medicaid Buy-In Program, an initiative that now provides people with disabilities an opportunity and incentive to earn higher income while ensuring continuation of needed health care coverage. Five businesses -- The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, Benchmark Hospitality International at Virginia Crossings Resort, Busch Gardens Europe, the Bradford Company, and Food City -- were also recognized for their partnership and demonstrated commitment to employing persons with disabilities. In addition, the Greater Richmond Association for Retarded Citizens (ARC), a local nonprofit organization, was awarded for facilitating the employment of persons with mental retardation and developmental disabilities through their vocational programs; while the Virginia Department of Professional and Occupational Regulation (DPOR) was honored for providing internship and employment opportunities. Lastly, DRS Consumer Clayton Roth, was recognized for his professional achievements. The 2006 awards breakfast took place at Virginia Crossings Resort in Glen Allen (Richmond), Virginia and was attended by over 150 guests including business, state and legislative representatives. This year's awards luncheon will be held at the Omni Richmond Hotel.
Networking business programs such as the Commonwealth Workforce Network and the Virginia Business Leadership Network have allowed such fruitful partnerships with the business community to develop . These two initiatives have shown early success, yet show even more potential to serve as vital workforce resource for Virginia's businesses. To date, there are 22 local Workforce Networks operating across the state, providing a means for employers to access applicants and resources across multiple agencies. Monthly network meetings, typically led and facilitated by our Business Development Managers, guarantee an opportunity for businesses to find success and, moreover, become "champions" in their own right.
Virginia also benefits from an emerging partnership with the Virginia Business Leadership Network (VABLN). This partnership benefits from corporations like Sun Trust, Manpower, Navy Federal Credit Union, and Trigon, who are ready, willing, and able to share their successful strategies for employing workers with disabilities. This "business-to-business" relationship is promoted by DRS and again demonstrates not only the successes that can be found in hiring DRS clients, but more importantly, the value in adding qualified workers with disabilities to any company's workforce.
If you are a business interested in adding value to your workforce, I encourage you to contact our agency and learn more about what we can do to truly make Virginia the "best state for business." Please visit us on the web at www.vdrs.org.
Employment or Health Care? - Your employees don't have to choose
For people with disabilities, employment is an important step towards increased independence and financial stability. But, oftentimes, employees with disabilities fear that they might lose crucial disability benefits if they earn too much income. This fear has limited people with disabilities from taking opportunities for career advancement, job promotion or increased wages. In turn, these benefits-related concerns limit employers' ability to maximize their employees' work potential.
On January 1, 2007, Virginia implemented MEDICAID WORKS, the state's Medicaid Buy-In program which allows working people with disabilities who want to attain higher incomes to pay a premium to participate in a Medicaid program, as though they were purchasing private health care coverage. Once enrolled in MEDICAID WORKS, individuals may have annual earnings in 2007 as high as $40,905 and resources up to $27,577. The MEDICAID WORKS program is available to current and new Medicaid enrollees who meet the following requirements:
- blind or disabled;
- at least 16 years of age and less than 65 years of age;
- employed or have documentation from an employer with the date when employment will begin; and
- income in 2007 of no more than $681 per month for a single individual ($913 if a couple) and resources of no more than $2,000 if single ($3,000 if a couple).
Emergency Preparedness for Employees with Disabilities
The 2007 Atlantic hurricane season officially began June 1 and will last until November 30. Forecasters predict up to 17 named storms, with a 50 percent chance that at least one major hurricane will hit the East Coast. Is your company prepared to assist employees with disabilities in case of an emergency or evacuation? Below are a few tips employers should consider when planning:
- Include employees with disabilities in your evacuation and emergency discussions/planning.
- Establish a "buddy system" where volunteer co-workers can alert and assist people with disabilities in an emergency.
- Encourage employees to make a list of medications, allergies, special equipment, names, addresses, and telephone numbers of doctors, pharmacies, family members, friends, and any other important information.
- Consult with local fire, police, and rescue departments periodically about issues such as whether people with disabilities should remain in their workplaces, assemble in an area of refuge to await the arrival of rescue workers, or immediately evacuate.
- Practice and evaluate alternate methods of evacuation through announced and surprise drills.
The Virginia Department of Emergency Management developed an emergency survival toolkit for businesses. To read more on what businesses can do to become better prepared to assist employees with disabilities in emergency situations, click here.
Keep Off-site Workers Connected
The option of telecommuting has opened many new employment opportunities for people with disabilities, especially those with difficult transportation or scheduling needs. For employees working off-site, however, telecommuting can quickly lead to communication problems if not handled correctly -- which means, structured communication becomes extremely important. Below are simple tips to help employers keep the lines of communication open:
- Train employees to ask for specific feedback. Example: They should ask, "What do you think about this idea. Look at page two, line 24. Is that item correct?" Follow the same rules when you ask them questions - be specific.
- Keep them informed. Often, off-site workers aren't involved in the day-to-day decision making and information flow that goes on in the office. When a decision is made without their involvement, make an extra effort to explain the reasoning behind the decision.
- Involve remote workers in major decisions, and keep them apprised of any changes to projects or policy.
- Set a specific time each week for a team "huddle" - by phone or email if necessary - that allows telecommuters to check the progress of projects and goals.
FEATURE: Most Workers Underestimate Chances, Impact of Disability
A recent survey by the Council for Disability Awareness reveals that the number of workers experiencing disability is on the rise. The following is an article from the March 2007 issue of "Insurance Journal", which reports the underestimated probability that workers would acquire a disability later in life and its financial impact on their ability to work:
While a growing number of American workers are forecasted to experience a disability during their career, more than 80 percent of workers said they believe their chances of becoming disabled are far lower than actual statistics report, according to a new survey. The 2007 Disability Awareness Survey, released by the Council for Disability Awareness (CDA), said the majority of workers are not concerned about the possibility of becoming disabled - an accident or illness that will keep them out of work at least three months.
Data from the survey underscores the need to better inform America's workforce about the likelihood of experiencing a disability, as well as the potential financial consequences that may accompany a disability. The CDA is embarking on an outreach effort to increase public dialogue about disability awareness.
"Preparing for an unexpected disability has never been more important for America's workforce - especially as more American workers are suffering from income-limiting disabilities that can leave them and their families vulnerable to severe financial hardship," explained Robert Taylor, executive director of CDA. "It's important that workers recognize the growing threat that disability can pose to their financial security."
Since 2000, the number of disabled workers in America has increased by 35 percent according to recent Social Security Administration data. At the same time, the financial health of many American workers has declined. Workers are not only spending their earnings, but also are dipping deeper into their savings and going into debt to make ends meet. The overall 2006 U.S. savings rate was negative 1 percent - the worst since the Great Depression. These statistics are distressing, considering two-thirds of respondents with a 401k or IRA plan are unaware of what would happen to their retirement savings should they become disabled and unable to earn an income.
Given this unsteady financial situation, it's alarming that nearly 60 percent of workers surveyed said they haven't discussed how they would manage an income-limiting disability. In fact, almost half of these workers haven't thought at all about the need to plan for the financial impact of a disability.
On the other hand, more than 80 percent of workers who have planned financially for a disability are confident about their ability to cover living expenses if a disability strikes.
The CDA survey also showed that:
- The majority of workers (56 percent) didn't realize that their chances of becoming disabled had risen over the past five years.
- Nine out of 10 (90 percent) workers underestimated their own chances of becoming disabled.
- More than one-third (35 percent) of workers with 401k or IRA plans said they haven't thought about or don't know what would happen to their contributions if they were unable to earn an income for a period of time.
As responsibility for long-term financial security continues to shift to the American worker, the need to incorporate disability planning into each person's financial security plan has become more critical," Taylor said. "Fortunately, with good planning, American workers can dramatically improve their chances of financial stability should a disability strike."
Source: Council for Disability Awareness, www.disabilitycanhappen.org, Copyright 2007 Wells Publishing, Inc.
New On-Line Video: "Great Hires"
The Washington Supported Employment Initiative in Seattle has produced a short (8-minute) video about three companies in Washington State that have experienced success in hiring people with disabilities. Watch Video
DVD's are available for a shipping and handling fee. To place an order, visit their online store.
Help Us, Help You!
Do you have a success story you would like us to feature in this Newsletter? Do you have suggestions on certain disability-employment topics that you think we should cover? We want to hear from you! Please send your suggestions, comments, or articles to marketing@drs.virginia.gov. THANK YOU!!!
