DEERFIELD, ILLINOIS (BUSINESS WIRE) – CAREERS & the disABLED magazine has selected Walgreens as it’s private employer of the year for Walgreen’s commitment to recruiting, hiring and promoting people with disabilities.
Recently, Walgreen’s launched a disability employment program in conjunction with the Texas Department of Assistive and Rehabilitative Services (DARS), with a commitment to hire people with disabilities for at least 10% of all service clerk openings in the Dallas/Fort Worth, Texas areas stores. CAREERS & the disABLED magazine publisher John Miller, says "We are pleased to name Walgreens for its commitment to recruit, hire and promote people with disabilities."
21 comments:
I have a lot of respect for Walgreens. When I was studying pharmacy, Walgreens gave me multiple scholarships, mainly because I was interested in working in an underserved area. I find their commitment to helping others commendable. I wish other large corporations would follow suit in their effort to recruit and assist minorities--be it people with disabilities or ethnic minorities.
I think it is great Walgreens is committing to help the disabled community by holding 10% of its clerical positions open for individuals with disabilities. I hope that more businesses will take strong stances like these to help create an equitable work environment for all people. Giving people with disabilities opportunities like theses will only enhance their level of independence and interaction with the community.
-Sukania Mendez
According to the Walgreens’ website, the program was the idea of Senior Vice President Randy Lewis. It took the company more three years to develop the program and they sought out input from disability experts and people with disabilities. I am especially impressed that their outreach program actively recruits qualified people with intellectual or cognitive disabilities. However, the Walgreens’ website does not define the term “qualified.” Nevertheless, Walgreens also emphasizes the importance of having people with and without disabilities work in the same team. I especially found it important that the company stresses that the positions are not sheltered or charity work. The Walgreens’ website also has a section that addresses questions about SSI and disability benefits. I applaud Walgreens and I hope that other companies look into implementing similar programs.
I was also impressed with the magazine, CAREERS & the disABLED. The magazine coordinates career expos for people with disabilities, helps job seekers and recognizes employers. The magazine even posted online “The Top 50 Employers” for the 2010.
B. Ramirez
I think it is absolutely wonderful for a business as big as Walgreens to create a program that enables individuals with disabilities to find jobs.The Walgreens company operates about 7,162 drugstores across all 50 states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico. That is a tremendous impact on the whole nation and how individuals with disabilities have opportunites to work. I think this also creates an awareness for other companies and hopefully its a catalyst for getting more companies to start similar programs.
What is Walgreens Outreach?
Outreach is an effort by Walgreens to enhance the opportunities we can offer to people with disabilities by creating relationships with entities that serve or are otherwise interested in the employment of people with disabilities.
Walgreen Co. has a long history of employing people with disabilities, in each situation, a new relationship has been formed with a different entity.
Outreach helps the company mainstream these efforts and maintain a resource databank for employees.
http://www.walgreensoutreach.com/?foot=outreach
I think it is a wonderful thing for Walgreen’s to rehire, recruit, and promote persons with disabilities. It not only makes them look good but has very nice thing to say about working with persons with disabilities. They also make persons with disabilities feel more dependent about them and also feel more confidence about them. I really with that all business would be the same and be professional; I am really never going to forget an incident that happened at Wal-Mart. As I was going in to the store I saw a person with a disability trying very hard to put the carts in the idle were the belong and all the other co-workers were making fun of him and laughing like if he was a joke. Instead of them helping in whatever he might need, they just stand and laugh, so I went inside and spoke to their manager and told her that I did not see the fun in that among other words. So Walgreen’s keep it up.
I believe this is a great idea for Walgreens to do. You don’t see this often, business’s advertising to hire people with disabilities. It probably brought a lot of smiles to people. As it is, it’s hard finding a job period with a disability or not. I can’t imagine how people out there don’t have a job just because of their disability. There are a lot of jobs that will not hire someone because of their disability. They don’t want to accommodate to their needs which is very sad. Everyone deserves a chance, especially people with disabilities. I bet Walgreens made a lot of wishes come true. This makes people with disabilities bring hope to their life. A lot of them give up and think that there is no chance for them out here, but there truly is someone with a heart. Even people with disabilities can live their dream and make it come true.
Jennifer Valerio
I’m really proud of Walgreens because most companies usually turn their heads when it comes to hiring people with disabilities. I’m sure some companies feel scared to hire people with a disabily because they don’t feel they can do their job right or will need a lot of accommodations. They rather not bother with it then to make an effort. It’s great to hear that Walgreens launch will start in Dallas, Texas. I believe more companies should follow along and do the same thing Walgreen is doing. There are so many other jobs they can do will working in Walgreen’s. Some can be cashiers, stocks and maybe some can be greeters. Anyways it’s great news good luck to all those who are applying.
Tanya D.
I think that it's great that Walgreens gets involved in the employment of people with disabilites. It provides people with diabilities more fee way to obtain independent living. If only more stores and restaurants would do this, it would be great. Its positive things like this that society needs to make a good inmpact and provide more motivation for other places to do so.
ALINA LIMON
Walgreens is a great example of what should be done more often with many other companies and corporations throughout the United States. It gives proof that not only Walgreens is a great company but is also concerned for the wellbeing of citizens with or without disabilities. Giving people with disabilities an opportunity to work will not only help them become selfsufficient but feel confident about their own selfs and the many things they can accomplish.
A.Huerta
This is wonderful and I have commend Walgreens. I mean when you committ to 10% of your clerical positions to be opened for those with disabilities it says alot. This gives individuals with disabilities the opportunity to be independent and grow. So I salute Senor VP Randy Lewis and hopefully more companies will follow suite.
Cris Gonzalez
According to the Walgreens’ website, the program was the idea of Senior Vice President Randy Lewis. It took the company more three years to develop the program and they sought out input from disability experts and people with disabilities. I am especially impressed that their outreach program actively recruits qualified people with intellectual or cognitive disabilities. However, the Walgreens’ website does not define the term “qualified.” Nevertheless, Walgreens also emphasizes the importance of having people with and without disabilities work in the same team. I especially found it important that the company stresses that the positions are not sheltered or charity work. The Walgreens’ website also has a section that addresses questions about SSI and disability benefits. I applaud Walgreens and I hope that other companies look into implementing similar programs.
I was also impressed with the magazine, CAREERS & the disABLED. The magazine coordinates career expos for people with disabilities, helps job seekers and recognizes employers. The magazine even posted online “The Top 50 Employers” for the 2010.
B. Ramirez
It is amazing what Walgreens are doing. Not too many places will hire people with disabilities. Now that Walgreens has done such a good deed maybe it will spread and other stores and companies will start doing the same. People with disabilities will have the chance to show that they are able to work. People with disabilities do show quality of work better than some that don’t have a disability. Why because they are always being criticized for example not being reliable, and not show up to work because of their disability.
Nora
This is a great thing that Walgreens is doing especially because of the situations that the United States is living in today. I have respect for this organization because of the many jobs that it will offer people with disabilities. This will allow for more corporations to recruit and assist individuals with disabilities.
Nancy L.
I commend Walgreens for it commitment of reserving 10% of it clerks positions for disabled individuals, but it is not the first or the last company to hire disabled individuals for low level entry positions. I would like to see companies like Walgreens, Walmart, HEB or Target make the claim of having 10% of executive or management positions reserved for disabled individuals. I have seen disabled individual as door greeters, cash register operators and clerks, but what I rarely see is a disabled individual as a general manager or store director. Remember the “DPN” movement? Let us all hope that one day soon we will hear about a similar change taking place with in the retail establishment. I didn’t mean to step on anybody’s toes but we have to keep our eyes, mind and hearts open and looking towards the future. A. Lazo
Good start from Walgreens and hopefully it will spread all over the state. There are many companies that may not hire people with disabilities due to the fact that they think they will miss work more or cost more for insurance. Also many may feel that people with disabilities might not be able do a job correctly without the need a lot of accommodations. Hopefully this will open the door for more companies to do the same. I believe that Wal-Mart does this with their door greeters.
James D.
As I venture closer to becoming a vocational counselor I have become more aware of the opportunities that are available for individuals with disabilities. Sometimes, I think about particular case studies and try to imagine what occupational options the client may have and I've just added Walgreens to my mental arsenal. I believe it is essential for large corporate companies to emphasize an effort to hire disabled individuals, for it sets the standard for everybody else. These individuals have alot to offer if given the opportunity to shine.
Wow! This is truly amazing! Walgreens deserves this recognition for taking such a great step. This will certainly help people with disabilities boost their self-esteem and feel like they can earn their own living just like anybody else. This will also help the economy by allowing more people into the workforce. Hopefully other supermarkets nationwide see this and want to jump into the band wagon. This is a truly positive step by Walgreens.
Crystal L. Chiu
I think it is great that Walgreens is being recognized for their effort in promoting the hiring of individuals with disabilities. As an intern at the Department of Assistive and Rehabilitation Services I can see how DARS consumers are very capable and qualified for the type of positions that Walgreens hold. I really feel that more of this multi million dollar companies should get involved in acknowledging the abilities and capabilities of individuals with disabilities. I personally had the opportunity to call the local Walgreens around the McAllen area for one of our consumers at the DARS office. As I identified a job opening as a beauty advisor I quickly called the consumer to inform her of it. The excitement of the consumer in just knowing that she can apply for the position is priceless. I hope to see the Walgreens from our local area follow the same attitude the Dallas Forth Worth area is doing.
Emede Reyes
It's great to hear that Walgreens is taking an extra step in giving opportunities to people with disabilities. I think that if they are leaders in this area, other companies may begin to adopt similar ideas giving more opportunities to people with disabilities.
-Anna Ocanas
Just "window dressing". I have worked for Walgreens for many, many years and I am disabled. I have asked for a few simple accommodations and Walgreens has denied me each time. I filed an EEOC claim of discrimination against them and won. Walgreens still denies my accommodation requests. Take it from a Walgreen employee, they only are doing it to get public attention. In reality they have no intention of making a good faith effort for the disabled. Don't be fooled, this is just "window dressing". I feel sorry for any of Walgreens disabled workers that didn't make the news reel.
I applied to work at Walgreens. I am high performing learning disabled. I have never heard back from Walgreens with more than 16 yrs.of retail experience. I would like to hear from Walgreens. mrosenthal12@yahoo.com
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