Gaining the Accessibility Tick

Today Air New Zealand is proud to have received the Accessibility Tick accreditation, as a step in our journey in continuing to build a diverse workforce truly representative of Aotearoa.

Designed by Access Advisors, accreditation of the Accessibility Tick is recognition of the ongoing commitment to ensure Air New Zealand and other member organisations continue to create a more accessible and inclusive workplace for employees and potential employees with disabilities.

Statistics show one in four New Zealanders identify as having a disability, whether that be a physical, sensory, learning, mental health or other impairment, yet recent labour statistics show New Zealanders with disabilities are three times less likely to be employed than their non-disabled peers. That contributes to a disability employment gap of over 47%! If one quarter of our country’s population is missing out on a fair chance at employment or are subject to challenging working conditions that don’t meet the needs of their disability, organisations are both missing out on talent and some may also not be supporting current employees correctly.

Air New Zealand launched its Diversity & Inclusion strategy in 2013 and since then we have made leaps and bounds to create a place where Air New Zealanders can be themselves and thrive. Last year alone, we were proud recipients of the Rainbow Tick and Gender Tick, supporting our LGBTQI+ community and the development of female leadership across the business. Gaining the Accessibility Tick accreditation today is another step forward in committing to better support our employees with disabilities.

Earlier this year I put my hand up to be the Executive Sponsor for our newest employee network – the Enable Network. Enable works to support Air New Zealanders who live with a disability, either their own or someone close to them, and works to ensure all workplace locations are accessible to all. I’m personally invested in Enable not only to advocate for Air New Zealanders with disabilities but having family members who live with disabilities myself, I can see what struggles they encounter and what difference a supportive, inclusive and understanding support network around them can make.

Today’s accreditation is furthering our commitment to building an inclusive workplace for employees with disabilities. With the support of Access Advisors, we aim to understand, benchmark and improve in the following areas; leading in digital accessibility as more customers use technology to interact with us, creating a more diverse workforce through recruitment of people with disability, further driving inclusion by educating our people about accessibility.

I’d like to thank Access Advisors and the Accessibility Tick organisation, our Enable Network and Executive and Board for supporting our diversity and inclusion journey in launching this network and gaining this accreditation. I look forward to more progress in this space and encouraging more companies to create a bias free environment where employees can turn up to work and are met with support and acceptance and feel confident that abilities are seen before disabilities.