May 1, 2017
Charity praises WPD for deaf awareness excellence
WPD Contact Centre Adviser, Kate Kenny pictured answering calls from customers.
As part of our continued support of Deaf Awareness Week, today we’re focusing on the support given to our own employees.
Earlier this year, national charity Action on Hearing Loss (AOHL) the national charity for people with deafness or hearing loss, published a new report called Working for Change. In the report AOHL identified WPD as a business that provides excellent levels of service and accessibility for customers and employees who are deaf or hard of hearing.
The report follows a survey by YouGov, commissioned by the charity which polled over 600 businesses across the UK to gain understanding and insight into good practice which could be replicated.
The survey presents findings of its research plus recommendations on how to improve attitudes to hearing loss in the workplace.
WPD, an equal opportunities employer and holder of the AOHL Louder than Words Charter Mark, was one of only five UK businesses from the 618 polled to be interviewed in a bid to gain more understanding of good practice and attitudes to hearing loss.
Employees with hearing loss were also interviewed and their comments used as good examples of how businesses can help staff in their day to day tasks by providing simple but effective solutions.
One of them, Kate Kenny, a WPD Contact Centre Adviser in Derby explained: “I’ve worked for the company for three years and when I joined they knew exactly what to do. They arranged for me to have a work based assessment and then an advisor recommended a telephone amplifier and handset that best suited my needs.
“Initially I had been concerned about how my hearing loss would impact on the job when I applied for it, but at no point did WPD mention it which reassured me that I could do the job.”
Laura Cook, AOHL’s Senior Research and Policy Officer said: “We applaud WPD for taking really positive steps to employ people with hearing loss and to make the workplace inclusive. We want to see this attitude replicated across the country and in all sorts of workplaces.”
You can find out more about the various ways deaf and hard of hearing customers can contact us via our Accessibility page.
For more about Deaf Awareness Week visit www.deafcouncil.org.uk/deaf-awareness-week
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