Another “Best” for our inclusive workplace.

We’ve been named one of the Best Places to Work for Disability Inclusion, earning a perfect score on the 2021 Disability Equality Index. Our strong focus on creating an equitable workplace has enabled Verizon to earn the top score for six consecutive years on the Index, which is a joint initiative of the American Association of People with Disabilities (AAPD) and Disability:IN.

We’ve consistently demonstrated our commitment to creating an inclusive workplace. Along with other industry leaders, Hans recently reinforced our commitment by signing a letter that advances disability inclusion, and we are proud to be a key partner of Disability:IN, which is a not-for-profit organization that works with businesses to further expand opportunities for people with disabilities. Building an equitable workplace helps us succeed in moving the world forward for all.

Taking the criteria seriously.

The Index is the most comprehensive benchmarking tool for measuring disability workplace inclusion within the business world. We participate to demonstrate our commitment to disability inclusion and equity, as well as to learn more about how we can keep getting better. Top scoring businesses of 80% percent or higher are recognized as Best Places to Work for Disability Inclusion. We’re proud to acknowledge that we’ve achieved a perfect score of 100%.

Now in its seventh year, the 2021 Index measured companies in the following criteria:

• Culture and leadership
• Enterprise-wide access
• Employment practices (benefits, recruitment, employment, education, retention and advancement)
• Community engagement
• Supplier diversity
• Non-U.S. operations

Additionally, due to the global pandemic, questions about innovative technology, mental health benefits, flexible work options, and services for hearing impaired were included in this year’s study.

When only 100% will do.

As we do with all underserved communities, we continually strive to foster a culture of inclusion and equity. We understand that achieving a top score each year doesn’t mean we rest on our laurels, therefore every year we advance our efforts further in order to raise the bar. In the last year, we’ve continued our advancement of inclusion in a number of ways, including the following:

• Kicked off our first annual celebration of Disability Pride Month andBIPOC (Black, Indigenous and People of Color) Mental Health Month.
• Joined The Valuable 500 a global movement working with business leaders to help unlock the social and economic value of people living with disabilities.
• Engage in an active partnership with Disability:IN — a non-profit resource that works with 270 corporations to expand opportunities for people with disabilities.
• Launched the Disability Advisory Board — An external board of trusted leaders from disability organizations that partner with Verizon senior leaders in a pledge to upskill future innovators.
• Celebrate Global Accessibility Awareness Day (GAAD) — an annual event providing insights to ways Verizon provides equitable access and experiences.
• Hold an annual Accessibility Summit  — each October to coincide with National Disability Employment Awareness Month, a collaboration of Consumer Group, Business Group and Media Group innovators is delivered to the V Team to build awareness of our assistive technology.
• Employee resource group  Verizon ADVANCE (Advocates for Disability, Accessibility, Neurodiversity, and Caregiver Empowerment) provides resources and programming to our V Teamers.
• We’re proud recipients of the Mental Health America’s 2020 Mental Health Corporate Excellence Award — we were recognized for our ongoing programs, accommodations and training to support mental health wellness in the workplace.
• We create honest topical content related to mental health and physical disabilities, including our #Next20 series of conversations about top racial, social, environmental, technology and business issues. Check out these two hard-hitting episodes: How are you Feeling? and Disabled and Worthy.

We are proud of our efforts and the recognition we receive, and per our Credo are driven to keep getting better: “We know our best was good for today. Tomorrow we’ll do better.” This is how we create the networks that move the world forward, and our commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion ensures that we are moving the world forward for all.

Congratulations to the V Team on once again being rated the best — it’s a part of who we are.

V Team, go to VZWeb to join the conversation