The American Staffing Association and U.S. Department of Labor’s Office of Disability Employment Policy formally renewed an alliance to focus on advancing the employment of people with disabilities. The signing of the alliance took place during the ASA Staffing Law Conference at the Grand Hyatt in Washington, DC.
Since first signing an alliance in 2020, ASA and ODEP have collaborated on a number of initiatives to promote the employment and inclusion of people with disabilities. Most recently, they collaborated on a new website with resources to help employers make their businesses more inclusive and to assist employers in recruiting, hiring, retaining, and advancing people with disabilities. Representatives of ODEP have also spoken at Staffing World®, the ASA annual convention and expo.
The alliance was extended with a five-year renewal and calls for the continued development and publication of resources to support employees with disabilities and employers looking to increase their companies’ inclusivity. In addition, ASA and ODEP will continue to meet and discuss innovative strategies to advance the employment of people with disabilities across industries.
“Staffing and recruiting agencies can help people with disabilities gain access to the careers they deserve,” said Richard Wahlquist, president and chief executive officer of ASA. “We are proud to renew our strategic partnership with ODEP and look forward to building more opportunities for people with disabilities in the workplace.”
“Every day, staffing firms send millions of people to work all across America, and by their very nature these firms help foster work environments that are nimble, flexible, and inclusive,” said ODEP Assistant Secretary Taryn M. Williams. “We are delighted to continue our partnership and work together in the years ahead to ensure our economy is strong and inclusive, and that everyone—including people with disabilities—can work and succeed.”
Staffing firms employ more than three million temporary and contract workers in the U.S. every day—about 16 million annually—in virtually every job category, including industrial labor, office support, health care, information technology, and professional and managerial positions in roles ranging from entry-level to the c-suite.
By entering into an alliance with a party, ODEP is not endorsing any of that party’s products or services; nor does the agency enter into an alliance with the purpose of promoting a particular party’s products or services.
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About the American Staffing Association (ASA)
The American Staffing Association is the voice of the U.S. staffing, recruiting, and workforce solutions industry. ASA and its state affiliates advance the interests of the industry across all sectors through advocacy, research, education, and the promotion of high standards of legal, ethical, and professional practices. For more information about ASA, visit americanstaffing.net.
