According to 2018 statistics, young people living with a disability are four times more likely to be unemployed than their peers.
Since 1993, PolyEmp has been supporting your people with learning disabilities through all aspects of their employment journey. The charitable trust works in partnership with the employment skills courses at Unitec and MIT. From March 2019 to March 2020 it supported 59 new referrals into the pre-employment part of its service, and 140 young people in different stages of their employment.
“Many of our under-25s haven’t had a job before, but they each have their own abilities and goals,” explains employment advisor, Sita Rajput. “Our workshops and job club meetings are designed to help grow confidence and skills, and we know that these young people can become dedicated and motivated workers.”
A fear of the unknown means that some employers are anxious about hiring someone with a learning disability. “They’re not sure what to expect or what they need to do to support their employee,” explains PolyEmp’s manager Margaret Reilly. “That’s where we can help. We build relationships with prospective employers and work alongside them to create tailored roles that fit the person’s talents so that they can make a genuine contribution to the overall productivity and efficiency of the business.”
There may also be concerns around health and safety. In reality though, as long as a business has a decent induction and clear rules in place, there should be no more or less risk than with any other employee. “Many of our young people are extremely alert and aware of rules and regulations’ they have a heightened attention to detail,” Sita affirms. Indeed, although young people with a learning disability may need slightly more training, they can also be reliable employees who help to improve staff morale and reduce staff turnover. “Statistically, they take fewer than average sick days and are likely to stay longer in entry-level jobs, so employers could save on recruitment costs,” she adds.
One of PolyEmp’s main responsibilities is to help match the right person with the right role, helping to identify and support a young person’s transferable skills. “If you have jobs that are hard to recruit, or tasks that your staff struggle to fit into their workload, you may find that a candidate with a learning disability would perform these tasks willingly and competently,” say Margaret.
“Their positive attitude and enthusiasm can be infectious!” she continues. “Team dynamics and overall performance have been known to improve as a result of employing someone with a learning disability. It really is a mutually rewarding relationship – and we’d love to help more North Harbour businesses start enjoying these reciprocal benefits.”
Want to know more about making a long-term commitment to employing a young person with a learning disability? PolyEmp would welcome the opportunity to chat with you. Contact Margaret Reilly on 021 552 861 or mreilly@unitec.ac.nz
