Walgreens named 'Private-Sector Employer of the Year' by Careers & the Disabled magazine
DEERFIELD, Ill. One of the nation's largest drug store chains has received recognition as a “Private-Sector Employer of the Year” from a career-guidance and recruitment magazine for people with disabilities who are at the undergraduate, graduate or professional level.
Careers & the Disabled magazine said that Walgreens would be honored by its publication in May for its commitment to recruiting, hiring and promoting people with disabilities and its progressive hiring practices.
“At every level, we do all we can to emphasize people’s abilities and strengths,” said Walgreens SVP supply chain and logistics Randy Lewis, who leads of the company’s disability employment initiative at its distribution centers. “We’ve been able to successfully make a meaningful impact on the lives of all who touch this initiative from team members and parents to managers and executives. We’ve done this while meeting our business objectives and doing what’s right for the company.”
Walgreens formalized its plan to make bigger strides in the employment of people with disabilities in 2007, with the opening of distribution centers that would feature employees with disabilities. One distribution center in Anderson, S.C., currently boasts 43% of people with disabilities in the facility’s workforce. Due to the successes in Anderson, Lewis created a company goal to fill 10% of its production jobs at all DCs with people who have disabilities by the end of 2010. Last month, Walgreens launched a pilot program aimed at hiring people with disabilities for 10% of service clerk openings at its Dallas/Fort Worth area stores. Training for the pilot, developed in conjunction with the Texas Department of Assistive and Rehabilitative Services, will prepare candidates for Walgreens staff positions, other jobs in retail or customer service positions that require similar skills. The company also plans to work with DARS to help candidates with job placement.
“This is the 18th year in which Careers & the Disabled magazine has honored employers who have made a difference in the lives of people with disabilities,” said publisher John Miller. “We are pleased to name Walgreens for its commitment to recruit, hire and promote people with disabilities.”