Coles Group has received accolades from Australia’s leading body for workplace inclusivity for its unwavering dedication to bridging the gap in disability inclusion. Ranking first out of 40 organizations in the Access and Inclusion Index 2023, as announced by the Australian Disability Network at the Disability Confidence Awards, Coles Group stands out for its proactive initiatives to foster an inclusive environment for both employees and customers with disabilities.
Leah Weckert, CEO of Coles Group, expressed immense pride in the organization’s top ranking in the Index, affirming its commitment to furthering efforts in closing the disability inclusion gap across its workforce, customer base, and communities served.
“Disability inclusion has been integral to Coles Group’s strategy for years, and we are thrilled to have enacted changes across our business to reflect this, particularly in our employment and workforce representation,” she remarked. Weckert noted that 7.6% of Coles’ 120,000 team members identify as living with a disability, signaling significant progress in this area.
While acknowledging the strides made, Weckert emphasized Coles Group’s ongoing commitment to enhancing workforce representation and supporting the career development of employees with disabilities.
She underscored the significance of the Access and Inclusion Index as a benchmark for organizations to drive continuous improvement initiatives aimed at narrowing the disability gap.
In the time since the previous Access and Inclusion Index results in 2021, Coles Group has undertaken various enhancements and adjustments to improve in-store and digital accessibility for customers, including:
Expanding the Quiet Hour initiative, a low-sensory shopping period, to five days a week in all Coles supermarkets nationwide.
Implementing Disability Confidence Training for customer-facing team members, with 90.5% completion rate among current team members and a requirement for all new hires.
Participating in the Australian Disability Network PACE Mentoring program, offering career mentoring by matching 10 individuals with disabilities from outside Coles with the company’s talented leaders.
Conducting annual testing of Coles Group’s digital experience across platforms, incorporating feedback from focus groups comprising individuals with lived experiences of disability.
Launching an Autism Support Hub for leaders and team members.
Collaborating with customer focus groups to identify opportunities for enhancing the accessibility of over 50 Own Brand products.
The Australian Disability Network, boasting over 460 member organizations, plays a pivotal role in aiding businesses to enhance access and inclusivity in the workplace, thereby eliminating barriers to employment and career advancement for individuals with disabilities.
