Maine's CHOICES CEO Project
Priority #2: Maine State Government As A Model Employer
Governor Baldacci signing the Working Together business-to-business network 'pledge' on October 15, 2007 at the State House in Augusta. Image by Susan Gatti Photography.
Read the text of the pledge here
View video footage and more photos from this event here
As one of the Maine's largest employers, state government can serve as an example and a resource to other employers interested in hiring workers with disabilities. Moreover, given the demographic projections of Maine's aging population, particularly in the public sector, it is in the state's interest to maximize Maine's workforce.
While there are existing policies that encourage state employment of people with disabilities, these policies can be improved in various ways.
Results of research by the CHOICES CEO project shows that:
- People with disabilities are now a very important part of the current workforce of Maine’s state government.
- All Maine employers, and especially public sector employers such as Maine’s state government, need to tap all worker pools to meet future workforce needs, and thus people with disabilities represent an extremely important part of this future work force.
- Maine state government needs to address some specific challenges in relation to the hiring and retention of workers with disabilities, and more is known now in the human resources field regarding best ways to succeed with employees who have disabilities.
By improving existing policies, adopting better employment practices, and promoting the results to other employers, the state government can lead the way in expanding employment opportunities and building a stronger Maine workforce.
Accomplishments
Since 2006 , Maine has been taking steps to improve state employment opportunities for people with disabilities.
The Governor made the issue a priority when he issued an Executive Order in February 2006 titled, "Maine State Government as a Model Employer of Workers with Disabilities." The order called for the state to better promote state jobs to people with disabilities, identify difficult-to-fill jobs, and survey state workers about their disabilities and experiences with state employment.
Later in 2006, the legislature acted by passing "An Act To Create Employment Opportunities for People with Disabilities," (Public Law 570). It called for the state to review its hiring and advancement practices, increase accommodations efforts, and create a position to coordinate disability employment services.
Combined, these two actions set the stage for real change.
Short-term Goals
- A training curriculum for managers and staff that draws from "best practices" and existing rules regarding the employment of people with disabilities.
- A centralized position to coordinate the state's efforts to expand employment opportunities.
Long-term Goals
- More people with disabilities will be employed by the state and will have successful employment experiences.
- Private-sector employers will view the state as a resource for furthering their own goals to successfully hire and retain workers with disabilities.
What Other States and the Federal Government are Doing
Federal
In October 2005, the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) issued a report on how state governments can be model employers: "Final Report on Best Practices in Employment of Persons with Disabilities in State Government."
California
A non-profit advocacy group called The Association of California State Employees with Disabilities ensures action on disability issues in state government. It works to expand employment, promotional and appointed opportunities for people with disabilities. In January 2008 this group released "A Review of The Employment of Persons With Disabilities In California State Government."
Vermont
In 2003, the Vermont Department of Personnel and the Division of Vocational Rehabilitation commissioned a survey of classified state employees concerning disability and diversity issues in the workplace. Results were published in a report titled, "Vermont State Employee Disability and Diversity Survey Analysis." (Note that as a PDF file this report may not be accessible to those using computer screen reading programs.)
Iowa
The state of Iowa created a "Working with Persons with Disabilities Guidebook" (Word download) for state supervisors and managers. This step-by-step booklet details the process of hiring and retaining employees with disabilities. Topics include: the interview process, hiring procedures and reasonable accommodations.
Recent News
- Public Law, Chapter 551 was enacted by the Legislature and signed by the Governor in 2008. Introduced by Rep. H. Sawin Millett, Jr., "An Act to Ensure that State Government is a Model Employer of Persons with Disabilities" adds new clarifying language to a 2005 law directing each state agency to develop a plan to increase its opportunities to employ individuals with disabilities.
- Governor Baldacci signed the Working Together pledge in order to commit the state government, Maine's largest employer, to maximum efforts to recruit and support workers with disabilities. View a short video of this signing.
- On October 15th, 2007 Governor Baldacci issued a proclamation designating October 2007 as "Disability Employment Awareness Month" in Maine. Go here to view video footage of this event.
- Final Report of Maine State Employee Survey on Disability, June 2007 Results show that 10 percent of state workers report having a disability. Of these 10 percent, about half requested a job accommodation, and almost one-third of these reported problems getting a job accommodation. Go here to view video footage of Governor Baldacci talking about the survey.
- A new brochure entitled "Are you a person with a disability looking for a good job? Have You Considered Work with the Maine State Government?" (PDF format) contains information for job seekers who have a disability. The text of this brochure can be obtained in this HTML document.
Highlights
Governor Baldacci signs the Maine State Government as a Model Employer of Workers with Disabilities Executive Order.
