Statement from NOD Chairman Gov. Tom Ridge on President’s Biden Proposal to End Sub-Minimum Wages for People with Disabilities

As Disability Scoop reports, “Under a law dating back to 1938, employers are able to receive special 14(c) certificates from the U.S. Department of Labor allowing them to pay individuals with disabilities less than the federal minimum wage of $7.25 per hour.”

Many disability advocacy organizations, including the National Organization on Disability, who have been pushing for years to end the outdated practice, were encourage by President Biden’s proposed American Rescue Plan, which calls for eliminating subminimum wages for people with disabilities in addition to increasing the minimum wage and ensuring the disability community is not exempt from receiving stimulus payments.

NOD’s Chairman, Gov. Tom Ridge, released the following statement in response to Biden’s proposal:

“There is no excuse for treating an entire class of American workers differently from others based solely on the characteristic of disability. President Biden understands this. He sends a powerful message that all Americans, including those with disabilities, must have a chance to have the financial freedom and security we all desire.

The National Organization on Disability has joined together with many of the largest and most effective disability organizations in America today, in opposing subminimum wages for workers with disabilities. We applaud President Biden for his commitment to eliminating the subminimum wage and we look forward to working with Republicans and Democrats in Congress to get it done. It is long past time to take this fair, commonsense step in the march to freedom for Americans with disabilities.”

The National Organization on Disability Urges Companies to Act Now & Advance Workforce Disability Inclusion Practices

Enhanced Disability Employment Tracker Survey Helps Companies Make Inclusive Workforce a Reality; Free Webinar Offered for Businesses to Learn More

January 11, 2021 07:15 AM Eastern Standard Time

NEW YORK–(BUSINESS WIRE)–The National Organization on Disability (NOD) is proud to launch its redesigned Disability Employment Tracker, the only assessment tool available that focuses on the workforce, to help companies better evaluate the effectiveness of their disability inclusion policies and practices. In its eighth year – and with companies who together employ more than 10 million Americans already taking the annual survey – the Tracker assists companies to make disability inclusion part of their overall business strategy and to find the right talent while removing inclusion barriers. To learn more, companies can register for a free Webinar: “Data-Driven Higher Standards: NOD’s Redesigned 2021 Disability Employment Tracker” on January 28, 2021 from 12:30 PM – 1:30 PM ET. Register here.

To make the Tracker an even more effective resource for companies in 2021, NOD partnered with Talmetrix, a national employee feedback, research and insights company. By using recent market research, the two organizations created a dynamic disability benchmarking tool that provides companies with the cutting-edge, outcome-based data metrics they need to build a more inclusive workforce, which is proven to enhance innovation and increase engagement with employees and customers.

“As our country continues to grapple with civil unrest and a global pandemic, the time is now for all companies to advance their disability inclusion practices and build a stronger more inclusive workforce,” said NOD President Carol Glazer. “Individuals with disabilities make up 20 percent of the U.S. population, the largest diversity group, and including them in hiring decisions increases a company’s talent pool exponentially. The 2021 Tracker is the only tool in the field providing a company with the data to improve their disability self-ID rates and workforce inclusion practices, as well as offering a deeper understanding of which key activities correlate to improved outcomes. Take the first step by completing the 2021 Tracker and join NOD’s winning Corporate Leadership Council.”

According to Talmetrix, previous Tracker data shows NOD’s Corporate Leadership Council (CLC) member companies performed better and were more effective at implementing best practices, programs, and policies. Specifically, CLC members improved self-ID rates by 21% since 2018 compared to non-Council members who showed an increase of just 0.26% in the same period. Overall, members of the NOD’s Corporate Leadership Council have 6% higher self-ID rates than their peers who are not members.

According to Chris Powell, Talmetrix CEO, “When companies, like CLC members, have a demonstrated commitment to measuring culture and climate associated with diversity and inclusion, they have better talent outcomes related to hiring, retention and engagement.”

Companies who complete the Tracker by March 26, 2021 receive a free Scorecard report, benchmarking their performance against all other participants in key workforce inclusion areas: (Strategy, Metrics, Climate & Culture, Talent Sourcing, People Practices, Workplace Tools & Accessibility and Veterans (optional). The 2021 Scorecard reports will be available for participating companies in the spring of 2021. In addition to receiving this powerful benchmarking tool, top performing companies are eligible to compete for NOD’s Annual Leading Disability Inclusion Employer Seal award. A list of the 2020 Leading Disability Inclusion Employer Seal winners can be found here.

Companies can access the free NOD Disability Tracker Survey here.


About the National Organization on Disability (NOD) and Talmetrix Partnership

The partnership between NOD and Talmetrix, Inc. blends advocacy with the current demands of the business community. NOD has decades of experience partnering with companies, large and small, to develop and grow hiring initiatives which provide a unique perspective on developing workforces based on employers’ needs. Talmetrix has more than a decade of experience in capturing employee feedback and data on culture, inclusion, engagement and organizational effectiveness and brings extensive expertise to survey design, analysis, and insights. Talmetrix administers the online survey platform and ensures confidentiality and data security.

To learn more about the National Organization on Disability visit our website. To learn more about Talmetrix visit our website.