Labor Department signs alliance agreement with Families and Work Institute

WASHINGTON — In an effort to promote inclusive workplaces that welcome the skills and talents of workers with disabilities, the U.S. Department of Labor's Office of Disability Employment Policy signed an alliance agreement today with the Families and Work Institute, a New York-based non-profit that conducts research to inform innovative solutions to the challenges facing today's workplaces, families and communities.

"For millions of Americans with complex life situations — including individuals with disabilities and their caregivers — workplace flexibility is essential to managing personal and family needs while also delivering on the job," said ODEP's Deputy Assistant Secretary Jennifer Sheehy. "We look forward to working with the Families and Work Institute in the coming years to advance key strategies that foster the workplace success of people with disabilities, strategies that incidentally benefit many workers without disabilities as well."

Since its inception in 2006, ODEP's alliance initiative has been engaging organizations to work with the agency to develop and implement model policies and initiatives that increase the recruitment, hiring, retention and career advancement of employees with disabilities. The new alliance builds on ODEP's past work with FWI, which included informing the development of the 2014 National Study of Employers, a joint effort between FWI and the Society for Human Resource Management as part of their When Work Works initiative. Together, ODEP and FWI worked to add questions to the study about workplace flexibility around job task: a proven strategy for increasing the employment of people with disabilities.

"Partnering with the U.S. Labor Department on this critical issue to promote the recruitment, development and retention of employees with disabilities is a dream come true for the Families and Work Institute. It is consistent with our mission of conducting rigorous research that leads to action," said the institute's President and Co-Founder Ellen Galinsky.

ODEP's mission is to develop and influence policies and practices that increase the number and quality of employment opportunities for people with disabilities. In addition to FWI, ODEP has alliances with SHRM, the U.S. Business Leadership Network, the Higher Education Recruitment Consortium, National Industry Liaison Group, Professional Baseball Athletic Trainers Society and Youth Transitions Collaborative/Center for Health Care Transition Improvement.