Emerging Trend

Emerging Trend
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Emerging Trend
Summary
One of the biggest drugstores in the United States, Walgreens, has been able to develop a reputation as a drugstore firm that provides meaningful employment to persons with diverse backgrounds with equal opportunities for job mobility and advancement. In the year 2008, it opened a modern distribution center in Windsor, Connecticut that is specially designed to employ disabled persons. This is the second such facility for Walgreens; its other facility is a distribution facility in the state of South Carolina, which has employed 400 people and 40% of them being with some form of disabilities. Managers at Walgreens’ distribution centers in both Connecticut and South Carolina have a common goal of having disabled persons fill no less than â…“ of the available jobs. A lot of employers generally do not practice or share the level of long-term commitment as well as investment in employing disabled persons as Walgreens. Nonetheless, demographic trends actually show that more companies have to, and they will eventually need to, make long-term commitment and investment in employing disabled people as rates of disability increase, the workforce grows older, and growth of the traditional labor pool continue to slow.
Critical thinking questions
Response to question 1
The tangible and intangible benefits that Walgreens receives by being a leader in hiring employees who have disabilities include improved image. From the perspective of public relations, employing people with disabilities may create a more positive image for the company (Joseph, 2013). The company can establish repute as a firm which has workforce that is more diverse. The other benefit is that it increases efficiency. At Walgreens’ facility in South Carolina, the efficiency of the facility increased by 20% since its opening after process changes and technology that were initially aimed at accommodating disabled employees improved the jobs of all employees. There is also increased revenues since the company can access new markets, and the company’s productivity may improve through effective and innovative means of doing business. Another benefit is reduced costs for instance the company may be able to reduce costs of hiring and t...