“No one wins when employees with special needs aren't adequately supported.”
Carole Smith/Director of Marketing/Former Chair of the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Council, Aquent
Aquent's Carole Smith was recently interviewed by Careers & the disABLED Magazine for an article on Aquent's commitment to building a dynamic, collaborative, and diverse work environment. Smith is the Director of Marketing at Aquent and Executive Advisor and former chair of the company's Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Council. The council is one part of Aquent's multifaceted approach to achieving its DEI goals, which include addressing DEI in recruiting, education, community, and partnership outreach. Smith says that “it isn't enough to just ensure diversity at Aquent, but in the broader creative and design workforce.” To do that, Aquent launched Diversity+, a recruiting tool for Aquent's clients to help them deliver on their DEI goals more comprehensively. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 26% of adults in the U.S. have some form of disability. With that in mind, Smith says, “it's important that companies implement disability initiatives proactively,” otherwise they are potentially missing out on opportunities to attract nearly a quarter of the workforce. Smith notes that the wellness of all employees should be a top priority for employers. Aquent offers comprehensive healthcare coverage to all talent, including part-time and freelance workers, as well as mental health services and universal paid sick leave. Smith says these benefits give security to all employees, especially those with chronic health problems or other special needs.
This article originally appeared on Careers & the disABLED.
