// John Lewis named “Disability Confident Leader” by the Department for Work and Pensions’ scheme
// The department store recognised for hiring and retaining employees with disabilities
// It has been a “Disability Confident Employer” since 2017
John Lewis has been recognised as a “Disability Confident Leader” by the Department for Work and Pensions for its action in hiring and retaining employees with disabilities.
The department store, which currently employs 83,000 people, achieved the highest government accreditation after being a “Disability Confident Employer” for the past two years.
John Lewis’ new status follows the retailer’s initiative to recruit candidates who might need support or adjustments through specialist job boards.
Its staff are educated and trained on disability awareness and managers are also trained on mental health, as well as an Ability Network which has around 600 members who help raise awareness about mental or physical challenges.
“Being visually impaired means I might work in a slightly different way, such as needing a larger screen or more time to digest a briefing document, but I’m just as capable of doing the work as anyone else,” John Lewis skills compliance partner Jonathan Fleet said.
John Lewis head of D&I and wellbeing Yulia O’Mahony said: “Providing employment opportunities for people of all abilities is not only the right thing to do, but benefits us a business through accessing and unleashing diverse talent and expertise, and we will continue to strive to push the boundaries of being a disability confident employer.”
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