ANZ is banking on accessibility and diversity

ANZ is employing and supporting staff with disabilities and says it is reaping the benefits of a workforce with incredible problem-solving skills.

The bank was nominated by The Blind Foundation and has been selected as a finalist in the ACC Employer Award category in the 2015 Attitude Awards. The national awards celebrate the excellence and achievements of Kiwis living with disabilities.

ANZ is committed to increasing the diversity of its workforce across New Zealand through consistent efforts to making employment accessible for people with disabilities. Since October 2014, ANZ has hired employees with a wide range of disabilities, including people with mobility, hearing and vision impairments, injuries, mental illness and epilepsy.

Maree Thirsk, ANZ HR Divisional Consultant, says: “As one of New Zealand’s biggest employers, we want to have a diverse workforce that reflects the diversity of our customers.”

Accessibility and inclusion begins at recruitment level. ANZ recently reviewed its recruitment processes to identify and remove barriers from what can be a very daunting process. ANZ also regularly advertises job openings through Job Café, a recruitment portal for candidates who have seen discrimination and may have been disadvantaged in the labour market. ANZ’s human resources team has had close contact with disability providers including the Blind Foundation, fostering successful placements of blind or low-vision employees.

Changes to the application process have aided accessibility, with small adjustments making a tremendous difference. For example, ANZ has increased the font size of its online application form to help candidates who are vision-impaired, and have included questions enquiring about disabilities, so support can be offered.

Thirsk says 44% of ANZ employees who identify as being disabled have sight, hearing or speech difficulties. Workspace solutions for these staff have been as simple as installing larger computer screens with low resolution or adjusting headsets to suit staff. ANZ works together with the employee to ensure the employee has what they need to succeed in their chosen careers.

ANZ has worked hard to improve the accessibility of the office environment as well as within its branches, ATMs and services and products for their customers.

Around 75% of employees with disabilities don’t need anything additional to fulfil their roles. Instead, they often perform best when timing is more flexible. ANZ promotes a full range of flexible work options, as well as resources and training available to managers and staff on making flexibility work. ANZ has always supported flexible working, but formalised this commitment to flexibility in 2015 by announcing “all roles flexible” for “anyone for any reason.”

“We have over 9,000 employees at ANZ and we appreciate that everyone brings a unique set of skills to the company,” says Thirsk.

“Our employees who identify with having a disability are fantastic problem solvers and offer refreshing and important perspectives. They are resilient and adaptable.”

“Having employees from a range of different backgrounds ensures that ANZ reflects the community in which we operate, which encourages greater understanding”.

The ANZ team will find out if they have won at a black-tie gala on World Disability Day, December 3 at Auckland’s Viaduct Events Centre.

There are eight categories in the 2015 Attitude Awards: Courage in Sport, Spirit of Attitude, Making a Difference, Artistic Achievement, Youth, Junior, the Attitude ACC Employer Award and Sport Performer of the Year. The overall winner of the Attitude ACC Supreme Award is selected from the category winners and a People’s Choice winner and Hall of Fame inductee are also announced on the night.

Attitude Awards Trustee Dan Buckingham, a member of the elite national wheelchair rugby team the Wheel Blacks, says: “It's always an exciting time here at Attitude as we find out who the finalists are and count down to the big night. The Awards reflect what Attitude is all about – sharing stories that prove people with disabilities can overcome adversity and achieve greatness, whether that be big or small.”

“We thank our fantastic family of sponsors who allow us to present the Attitude Awards year on year. Collectively we are changing people’s view of what is achievable when someone lives with a disability.”

Dan encourages everyone to visit AttitudeLive.com in early November to see short films of the finalists and to vote for the person most deserving of the ‘People’s Choice Award’.

Chief Executive of ACC Scott Pickering says ACC is proud to be principal sponsor of the awards for the eighth year, including sponsorship of the Attitude ACC Employer Award and the Attitude ACC Supreme Award.

“The Attitude ACC Employer Award is important because it reminds us that we all benefit when we look at what we can do, rather than what we can’t,” says Mr Pickering.

“We all have a role to play in ensuring we live in an inclusive society. It’s great to share the experiences of the finalists and I hope that other employers can learn from and be inspired by them”.

Other Sponsors supporting the Awards include: Westpac, Drake Medox, Ministry of Health, Barfoot & Thompson, IHC Foundation, Air New Zealand, Lion Foundation, Invacare and the Wayne Francis Charitable Trust.

ENDS

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