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11. Data on Workplace Accommodations
12. Methodology
13. Survey Results
14. Survey Results II
15. Alternative Methodology
16. Conclusions
17. Acknowledgments
18. For More Information…

Slide 11 of 18

Data on Workplace Accommodations

• Little national data on the prevalence and nature of workplace accommodations
• Without information on accommodation practices, creating accommodation strategies for a large number of older workers will be difficult
• Our interest:
  • Demographics of older employees
  • Workplace accommodation policies
  • What employers are doing now to accommodate older workers

Slide 12 of 18

Methodology

• Environmental scan/ Literature review
• Telephone interviews of Fortune 500 (n=61) from BLS-projected areas of economic growth
• Targeted group: HR professionals
  • Typically recipients of ADA and disability-related training
  • Considered to be contact for identifying and securing workplace accommodations

Slide 13 of 18

Survey Results

• 2 responses – Very difficult to find appropriate person to survey
• No accurate count on number of employees with disabilities (self-disclosed)
• Records on accommodations are difficult to keep due to the number of unofficial (ad hoc) accommodations
• One company continually assesses and modifies accommodation arrangements

Slide 14 of 18

Survey Results II

• Respondents report very small percentage of employees age 65 or older (~2-3%)
• Most accommodations not for age-related disabilities
• Respondents are aware of the growing workforce of older adults, but are not targeting this group for accommodations
• Companies anticipate supplying a greater number of workplace accommodations for older workers within the next 20 years

Slide 15 of 18

Alternative Methodology

• Online survey format
  • Directed to appropriate person (supervisors) from within the company
  • Avoid roadblocks faced by telephone interviews
  • Time aspect – convenient and flexible
• Business Advisory Network - WorkRERC

Slide 16 of 18

Conclusions

• Employers must take action now to prepare for aging workforce – including plans for workplace accommodations
• “Post mortem” analysis of original study methodology
• Data on workplace accommodations:
  • With this data, employers can anticipate and address key workforce-related issues
  • Need to find valid, reliable methods of collecting data on workplace accommodations
• Public policy standpoint: Increase awareness of importance of proactive approaches by employers in addressing the issues of the aging workforce

Slide 17 of 18

Acknowledgments

• Paul Baker, Ph.D. AICP, Nathan Moon and Brad Bagwell (CACP)
• Mike Williams, Ph.D. (RERC on Workplace Accommodations)

Slide 18 of 18

For More Information…

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