Walgreens Boots Alliance Named Disability:IN’s 2023 Employer of the Year - Seite 2

• Transitional Work Group (TWG): Started in 2007, TWG is a placement program for people with physical, mental and sensory disabilities. Students complete a 10-13-week program that includes classroom and warehouse training, social skills practice and education in workplace policies.
  • To date, more than 1,000 people with disabilities have been hired at 12 Walgreens distribution centers and regional warehouses across the country, with a successful 75% training-to-hire placement rate. The ripple effects of the TWG program continue-new hire orientation for supply chain team members now includes a two-hour training on disability awareness and etiquette.
  • The TWG program was recently expanded into Walgreens micro-fulfillment centers.
• Retail Employees with Disabilities Inclusion (REDI): REDI is a program that trains individuals with disabilities for customer service associate roles at Walgreens stores.
  • REDI, first launched in 2010, consists of a 3-6 week in-store training program, where participants learn valuable retail and customer service skills, qualifying hundreds of potential team members for retail roles. By the end of fiscal 2022, there were nearly 1,900 trainees enrolled in the program in more than 413 Walgreens stores across 38 states.
• Turning Pointe Autism Foundation: Walgreens partners with Turning Pointe Autism Foundation, a nonprofit that educates people with autism in the life skills necessary to live and work independently. A fully operational retail store was built within Turning Pointe's center and supported by actual Walgreens store managers. A 9-month training program was developed for students learn how to work within a team, interface with customers and manage the cash register. After graduating, participants become "Walgreens Certified" and are eligible to be hired at any Walgreens store.
• Neurodiversity in the Workplace: In 2022, WBA formed a partnership with Neurodiversity in the Workplace™ to design plans and programs to recruit, attract, hire and retain neurodivergent talent in Walgreens offices.
  • Neurodiversity in the Workplace provides education and greater awareness around neurodiversity by training hiring managers about what neurodiversity means, how to be an ally, and how to provide supportive workplace accommodations. The first cohort is expected to begin work at WBA's global support center in Deerfield, Illinois, this year.

In addition to training and work placement programs, WBA sponsors a disAbility Alliance business resource group (BRG) that educates and supports individuals with disabilities and allies by providing informational content, fostering an inclusive workforce and furthering disability-related initiatives. The BRG hosts educational programming and learning experiences for team members throughout the year, welcoming those with all abilities to join, learn and network.