Employment - Moon Rider 7 Project

Employees with Disabilities Working Professionally at Store ~Costco Part 2~

Through my observation at the warehouse, I found that Costco has created an inclusive working environment where people from different background can work together. In Japan, many positions that require you to serve customers or people from outside of the company in a face-to-face situation are still not open for people with disabilities. I wonder why. Do employers in Japan think that people with disabilities cannot do customer service face-to-face? Or do employers think that it is embarrassing to show employees with disabilities to their customers? Or both? In some business fields such as retail or food industries, the majority of positions would require you to serve customers directly. How can those industries promote hiring people with disabilities?

Employees with Disabilities Working Professionally at Store ~Costco Part 1~

The last company I visited in Seattle is Costco. The headquarters is located in Issaquah, which is 30-minute drive east from Seattle. I interviewed Brenda Weber, Assistant Vice President of Human Resource. At Costco, the vast majority of employees work at warehouses, which requires more physical movements as an essential function of the job. Those jobs might not link with employment for people with disabilities in Japan. However, Brenda estimates that there would be at least one employee with disabilities at each warehouse of Costco. Unlike Japan, US does not have a quota system for hiring people with disabilities. Then what kind of hiring process does Costco have to hire talented applicants including ones with disabilities?

All Employees Can Take and Expand Their Possibilities ~Amazon~

In Seattle, I visited a company which I cannot live without. It is Amazon. There are two big interesting findings at Amazon. First, is the procedure of providing reasonable accommodation, and the second is rich accessibility in internal training programs. At Amazon, I have found that there are various choices and opportunities that all employees can take and expand their possibilities. And of course, employees with disabilities are included.

Women and People with Disabilities Are Key Persons to Change A Working Environment

Being a person with disabilities may be a disadvantage in workplace. Being a women also may be too. Professor Lisa Iezzoni, whom I visited in Boston, works for the Massachusetts General Hospital, a major teaching affiliate of Harvard Medical School. She has multiple sclerosis and uses a wheelchair for all mobility needs. She shared her experiences of difficulties to build her career because of her gender and disability, and explained how change of law and education gave an impact to workplace in US.

Do You Disclose Your Disability on Your Résumé? ~Boston Center for Independent Living Part 2~

To me, it is very normal to disclose my disability on my résumé because it is very common in Japan. However, I was shocked when I heard Sarah’s perspective about what résumé should be focused. In Japanese society, disclosing disability in job interview and carrying the ID for persons with disabilities are required. I am sure some Japanese people get benefits because of the system. But because of the system, I wonder if many people have incorrect assumption toward people with disabilities’ work performance and value of résumé. How do you think?

“Dignity of Risk” – Failure Helps People Grow Stronger ~Boston Center for Independent Living Part 1~

In Boston, I visited Boston Center for Independent Living and interviewed Allegra Stout and Sarah Kaplan. Through the interview, I became interested in Transition Internship Program which provides paid internship opportunities for high school students with disabilities. The internship sites vary, and include profit and non-profit organizations, local companies, educational institutions, and governmental agencies. The important point is that Transition Internship Program gives an opportunity based on what trainees want to do, not what they can do. What would be the reason for that?

Skills Developed by Disabilities Are Precious Assets ~Part 4~

The last report of Starbucks Headquarters visit. I had an opportunity to meet Jessica Rafuse who is manager within the Equal Employment Opportunity team at Starbucks. Jessica has muscular dystrophy and uses a wheelchair. To empower employment for people with disabilities, Jessica works with Starbucks business units to develop individualized hiring strategies. I often hear from US companies, including Starbucks that “hiring the very best person for the job” is first priority. A person with disability often develops a powerful strength, which is developed by the disability. Jessica gave an inspiring example.

On the other hand, it appears that Japanese companies has not yet realized and recognized persons with disabilities’ strengths. I see Japanese companies often remove people with disabilities from “the very best person” from the beginning of recruiting process.

Awareness Determines the Fate of Employment for People with Disabilities ~Starbucks Part 3~

Continuously on the Starbucks report, I had a chance to talk with Adam Novsam who is a Deaf Starbucks partner and works as a Business Analyst. I was impressed when he shared his perspective as a Deaf person in the Starbucks Access Alliance meeting. He shared his interesting background and career experiences before he joined Starbucks. There are lots of differences between Deaf and hearing culture. I also shared my previous experiences of working with Deaf colleague in Tokyo.

Reasons Why Starbucks Is Loved by Customers and Employees ~Starbucks Part 2~

Continuously on the Starbucks report, I interviewed Ms. Marthalee Galeota who is a manager, Equal Opportunity Initiatives and is also a nationally certified American Sign Language interpreter. Marthalee is like a professional “bridge.” She serves as an internal consultant sharing her subject matter expertise on new and existing initiatives, and also dedicates her efforts for Starbucks customers with disabilities by improving customer service and accessibilities at store.

Real Strength of People with Disabilities at Workplace ~Starbucks Part 1~

I am always impressed by Starbucks’s high quality of customer service and very curious how Starbucks maintains the high quality of customer service at the numerous number of stores. In Seattle, I could visit Starbucks Headquarters twice! I have lots of stories to share with you. In part 1, I write about my great experience at the meeting of Access Alliance, one of Starbucks’s employee resource groups which promote inclusion and integrate accessibility. I found real strength of diversity and inclusion at Starbucks.