Ontario Corporate Training Centre

May is here, which means it’s time to celebrate Community Living Month! Learn more about #CLMonth2024 and how you can promote #AuthenticInclusion for people who have an intellectual disability and their families: bit.ly/cl-month

We've been busy at OCTC, and we're excited to share some updates with you!   Earlier this month, we hosted information sessions tailored for Ontario businesses and Employment Service Providers. It was an opportunity to learn more about our project and explore how everyone can get involved. If you couldn't make it, don't worry! Just send us an email at info@ontariotrainingcentre.com, and we'll gladly fill you in. We're thrilled to announce that businesses from across the province are signing on and are eager to start their disability inclusion journey. Stay tuned in the coming weeks as we spotlight some of these businesses on our social channels – there are inspiring stories ahead! #disabilityinclusion #diversityequityandinclusion #inclusiveworkplaces

What have been the biggest challenges for your business when hiring and retaining employees who have a disability? We're interested in anything you have to share in our brief survey as our team wants to learn the challenges you face in hiring and fostering inclusivity in the workplace. Your insights can shape the future of how we support businesses like yours! To complete the English survey, please visit: https://lnkd.in/gg4ZxbMT and to complete the French survey, please visit https://lnkd.in/gyEv2ZTJ. Thank you for being a part of creating positive change! #inclusivehiring #inclusionmatters #ontariobusiness #canadianbusiness #hiringmanagers #hiringtalent

An amazing resource for anyone looking to learn more about disability inclusion in our businesses and our communities!

Ten days left until the Ontario Corporate Training Centre (OCTC) information session! Are you an employment service professional? Have you registered yet? The OCTC team is hosting an information session for employment service providers (ESPs) to learn more about the project. This is a learning opportunity to help you grow both your knowledge, and your relationships with businesses in your community! When: Thursday, April 4 — 11 a.m. Where: Virtual, on Zoom (link provided after you register) Register today: https://lnkd.in/ebAm-fTB Here’s what the session will cover: –You’ll learn about the OCTC –Gain an understanding of its scope, objectives and the impact the OCTC intends to make –Insights on how collaborating with the OCTC can strengthen your relationships with businesses in your community –How the OCTC is reshaping workplace inclusion across Ontario by fostering collaboration between businesses and ESPs –How this ultimately can help enhance employer access to the disability talent pool The OCTC team’s looking forward to seeing you on Zoom, on April 4! [Image description] A bright yellow, light blue and dark purple graphic with geometric shapes advertising the information session. A purple and black OCTC wordmark is at the upper left against bright yellow. Information Session is in capital letters in white text against a light blue band below that. At the middle right in an octagonal shape there’s a photo of a worker with a development disability using a tablet while another employee looks on. The session information, time and date of the event is at the bottom left in white text against purple background.

Reflecting on the insights gained at Future of Work Canada 2024—it was a whirlwind of knowledge exchange and connections! From dynamic keynote speakers to engaging panels, the discussions were nothing short of enlightening on the future of Canadian workplaces. Here are a few key takeaways from FoWC: Hybrid Work is Preferred   In recent years, the world has undergone significant changes, transitioning into a digital-first environment. It’s no surprise that hybrid working is now the preferred and most dominant way of working. HR managers are now contemplating questions such as, “How can we balance the needs of our business and our employees in a hybrid work model? How can we be flexible with our work policies? How can we build a work culture that fosters a sense of connection and inclusion?” Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Is Not a Zero-Sum Game Investing in diversity, equity, and inclusion strategies isn’t just a marketing tactic for companies; it's essential for business sustainability. Many companies are missing out on valuable talent by not implementing inclusive workplace practices for all job seekers and employees. There are often many misconceptions in recruitment and retention processes from the employer, employee and/or job seeker. Businesses looking to foster a strong workforce must prioritize diversity, equity, and inclusion strategies. Time to Rethink Recruitment With an aging workforce, labor shortages are being felt across the nation. Traditional recruitment strategies are no longer appealing to the incoming workforce. Our current labor environment caters to the needs of Baby Boomers and Gen X, but these needs don't align with Millennials and Gen Z, who are the future of the Canadian workforce. For example, retirement packages were once appealing, but now, job seekers prioritize work flexibility and growth opportunities. As the needs of job seekers and employees evolve, so should our recruitment and retention strategies. As we look ahead, let's carry the momentum from the conference into our workplaces. If you're interested in learning and implementing innovative solutions to your current human resource challenges, email us at info@ontariotrainingcentre.com! #diversityequityandinclusion #inclusiveworkplaces #humanresourcemanagement #humanresources #hrsolutions #disabilityinclusion #futureofwork

It was a great privilege to represent the Canadian Down Syndrome Society alongside our Executive Director, Laura LaChance at the Down Syndrome International conference in New York City. Congratulations to the team for receiving an award for the initiative- inployable. #worlddownsyndromeday2024 #endthestereotypes

Only 5 days left until we meet! On March 27th, the Ontario Corporate Training Centre will be hosting an informational workshop and Meet & Greet for all Ontario businesses at the Withrow Common Gallery from 12:00pm-5:00pm EST! Please register here: https://lnkd.in/eNz3bdhx If you have any questions, please e-mail us at info@ontariotrainingcentre.com. We cannot wait to meet you all! #disabilityinclusion #diversityequityandinclusion #inclusiveworkplaces #inclusiveleadership #ontariobusinesses

This powerful video is a must-watch for every Ontario business looking for qualified talent: https://lnkd.in/e38gbyjf inployable is a resource founded by the Canadian Down Syndrome Society in 2022 to bridge the gap between employers and job seekers who have Down syndrome. Despite there being over a million job openings, 50% of qualified job seekers who have Down syndrome struggle to find work (Candian Down Syndrome Society). This World Down Syndrome Day, we want to highlight how disability inclusive hiring isn’t just the right thing to do, but the smartest business decision you’ll ever make. Just watch the full video to understand why.   ______________________________________________________________________ If you are looking to start or continue your disability inclusion journey in your business, please e-mail us at info@ontariotrainingcentre.com. #worlddownsyndromeday #wdsd2024 #canadiandownsyndromesociety #inclusiveemployment #disabilityinclusion #inclusiveworkplaces #diversityequityandinclusion

What does “an accommodation” really mean in the workplace? It is when adjustments are made for an employee or a job seeker who experiences barriers when applying for jobs, interviewing, and/or fully performing a position's duties. As an example, additional training when an employee is onboarded to understand the workplace practices. Another example would be creating a hybrid work model for an employee due to their barriers to travel. By providing accommodations for your job seekers and employees, you are fostering a workplace where everyone feels welcomed, respected, and included. The data can attest to that statement! According to the Job Accommodation Network Study conducted in May 2023: - 53% of businesses have noticed an improvement in employee productivity after implementing workplace accommodation. - 48% of businesses found that providing workplace accommodations for employees increased the employee’s attendance - 85% of businesses found that workplace accommodations helped them keep a valued employee  The data shows how small changes can have a huge impact on your workforce!  So, question for you: How do you foster disability inclusion in your workplace?   ______________________________________________________________________ If you are looking to start or continue your disability inclusion journey in your business, please e-mail us at info@ontariotrainingcentre.com. [Image description] This graphic has a light blue back ground with the Ontario Corporate Training Centre logo positioned in the top left corner. On the right corner, two circle images are intersecting. One image is situated in a manufacturing plant, where one male and one female wearing grey coveralls and yellow hard hats are standing by a piece of equipment. The male employee is demonstrating how to use the machine, while the female employee is learning. The second image is a Black woman sitting by her office desk in a non-ergonomic chair. She is holding her neck from poor back position while working at her desk. At the bottom of the graphic, there is text that reads: "53% of businesses found that implementing inclusive workplace practices such as accommodations for employees increased productivity. Resource: Job Accommodation Network Study 2023"