Workplace Culture
Inclusive workplace culture is a system in organizations and municipal recreation departments that focuses on including persons with disabilities. This starts with leaders supporting the idea and continues through practices in human resources.
As staff in a municipal recreation department, you play a crucial role in shaping a workplace that welcomes everyone. You’re not just in charge; you’re someone who can make a real difference. Your commitment to including people with disabilities should be more than just words—it should be seen in everything you do. When you show that you truly care about disability inclusion, you send a strong message to your team. You demonstrate that inclusion is a key part of your department’s mission, not just something you talk about. By leading with actions, you inspire your team to do the same.
The following ideas are meant to help you improve disability inclusion in your workplace. You will need to adjust them to fit your specific situation as in these two examples.
Rural Municipalities
If you are in a small municipality and do not have a separate human resources department, or if your staff is very busy, focus on the most important and achievable practices for your situation.
Larger Municipalities
If you have a human resources department, think about how you can work more closely with them and implement these practices across the entire municipality. Or choose actions that you can easily add to your recreation department’s everyday work culture.
As a leader, it is important to remember that your actions, as well as your intentions, have an impact on creating a workplace where all people with disabilities feel included and valued.
Executive Summary
There are many evidence-based practices to establish an inclusive workplace culture and management. They are divided into four groups below:
Accommodations
This section explains how to handle requests for accommodations, how to provide them, and what to do if an accommodation needs to be changed or re-evaluated.
Workplace Documents
Here, you will find tips on what to include in your workplace policies, reports, and even your department’s mission statement.
Human Resources-Related Practices
This section covers inclusive hiring practices, from finding candidates to keeping employees. You will also find ideas for topics to include in employee training.
Interpersonal Roles
This part takes a closer look at how people interact in the workplace and how to create an inclusive culture. You will find tips on communication, building relationships, and working together, with an emphasis on the important role of leadership in creating a culture where everyone feels valued.
