These six retailers earn high marks for on-the-job disability inclusion…

Six retailers ranked as “Best Places to Work for Disability Inclusion” on the 2021 Disability Equality Index. 

Walmart, Target, CVS Health, The Kroger Co., Meijer and Walgreens and Walmart received a 100% score on the Index, a comprehensive benchmarking tool that helps companies build a roadmap of measurable, tangible actions that they can take to achieve disability inclusion and equality.

Each company receives a score, on a scale of zero (0) to 100, with those earning 80 and above recognized as “Best Places to Work for Disability Inclusion.” Amazon was the only retail company to score a 90%. No retailers were in the 80% group.

A total of 319 businesses participated in the 2021 DEI. The study found that 5% of employees self-identified as having a disability in 2021, up from 3.7% in 2019. Four-percent of new hires self-identified as having a disability in 2021, up from 3.2% in 2019. Only 10% of companies have a senior executive who identifies as a person with a disability.

"The events of the last year highlighted gaps workplaces face in supporting members of marginalized communities," said Timothy Williams, VP of diversity & inclusion, Meijer, which earned the top score for the fifth straight year. "We continue to learn how to better support our team members with disabilities every day and appreciate seeing those efforts recognized again this year."

Williams said much of the retailer's success in the disability inclusion space is a direct result of passionate team members driving innovation, describing the Meijer Disability Awareness and Advocacy Group (mDAAG) as "essential." The employee resource group  works to advance the company's commitment to respecting and valuing diversity and inclusion by serving as a resource and liaison for all team members on issues of disability inclusion and equality.

The DEI is a joint initiative of Disability:IN and the American Association of People with Disabilities (AAPD).