Two new employer training courses have been launched to help Irish businesses implement more inclusive workplace practices for disabled employees.

FRS Co-Op, which specialises in employment, recruitment and training services, has developed courses that are designed to help build more inclusive workplaces.

With almost one in five people in Ireland living with a disability, both training courses have been designed to help business owners, managers and frontline team members create a working environment that is welcoming for those with disabilities.

Ireland has the lowest disability employment rate in all of Europe at less than 33%, which is significantly lower than the EU average rate for disability employment at 51.3%.

Multiple global studies have shown that diversity and inclusion is good for business and helps to improve financial performance and employee productivity.

FRS Co-Op’s training division developed both courses in conjunction with their colleagues in Turas Nua, a subsidiary of FRS Co-Op which provides welfare-to-work support for long-term unemployed people.

Leveraging Turas Nua’s experience of working with people with disabilities, FRS Co-Op’s training division has designed both courses to help improve Ireland’s disability employment rate, and to offer practical support for businesses seeking to attract a more diverse and inclusive workforce.

The Disability Equality and Inclusion course will provide businesses and their employees with a strong foundation in understanding disability in the workplace by recognising different types of disabilities, including mental health conditions.

The course will also provide a grounding in the legal rights and responsibilities, including reasonable accommodations.

The Inclusive Recruitment and Management course is designed for managers and recruiters who want to ensure inclusive hiring and retention practices.

It offers practical guidance on how to reach candidates with disabilities, facilitate disclosure conversations and manage reasonable accommodations.

The course will explore how to address unconscious bias during interviews and build a culture of inclusion through the entire employee recruitment cycle.

Both courses are 80% grant-funded for employers due to funding from the Work and Access programme run by the Department of Social Protection.

Employers can take the courses in-person or online.

JulieAnn McCann, General Manager of FRS Co-Op’s Training Division and Turas Nua, said: “All of the evidence from a number of global studies shows us that greater diversity and inclusion in the workplace is good for business.

"Despite this evidence, Ireland currently has the lowest disability employment rate in all of Europe.”

“Many business owners or managers may feel they do not have the skills or knowledge to hire an employee with a disability, which is why FRS Co-Op is launching these two courses.

"We want to help businesses to access a more diverse talent pool that will add value to their business.”

“By leveraging the experience and expertise of the Turas Nua team working with long-term unemployment and people with disabilities, we have been able to design two highly practical courses that will give employers the confidence to expand the diversity and inclusivity of their workforce."