Meijer Receives Champion of Opportunity Award from Opportunities for Ohioans with Disabilities

PRESS RELEASE

CINCINNATI, OH — Opportunities for Ohioans with Disabilities (OOD) recognizes Midwest retailer Meijer as a Champion of Opportunity for its commitment and leadership in integrating individuals with disabilities into Ohio’s workforce.

“Meijer is a company that places an emphasis on disability inclusion and is recognized for their unwavering effort to ensure that disability inclusion is incorporated into their hiring practices and workplace culture. Their desire to be a national leader in disability inclusion is having positive impact on employees, local communities and in the success of Meijer stores,” said OOD Executive Director Kevin Miller.

The OOD Champion of Opportunity Award honors companies that have gone “above and beyond” in their commitment and who serve as statewide examples of what it means to provide quality employment opportunities and increased independence for individuals with disabilities.

“Meijer is committed to supporting a diverse workforce in the communities we serve,” said Mike Graham, Meijer Senior Vice President of Supply Chain and Manufacturing. “We are pleased to partner with Opportunities for Ohioans with Disabilities to hire individuals who may otherwise face barriers to securing employment.”

Inclusivity is an important part of Meijer’s culture and the outreach efforts of their HR personnel is commendable. Meijer’s human resources staff makes personal contact with a face-to-face meeting and facility tour with every OOD candidate who is interested in working at Meijer. Over the past year, Meijer has hired 25 people into retail stores and one person into their distribution facility. Meijer’s example and leadership in hiring well-qualified and capable individuals, who happen to have a disability, serves as a model for other employers. Meijer is a member of the Ohio Business Leadership Network, a group of more than 100 employers statewide who are committed to diversity hiring and sharing best practices.

The Opportunity Awards are a significant part of OOD’s business recognition program and were created to highlight Ohio companies committed to providing employment opportunities for individuals with disabilities. The awards recognize companies at various levels; from those who have just begun to recruit, hire and retain individuals with disabilities to those with a proven track record of integrating individuals with disabilities into their workforce. For more information on the 2016 award recipients, visit www.ood.ohio.gov/Employers/Opportunity-Awards.

OOD is the state agency responsible for assisting individuals with disabilities to gain meaningful employment, to live independently or receive disability benefits through the Social Security Administration. www.ood.ohio.gov