Meijer Garners Its First-Ever Recognition for Disability Inclusion

Meijer Inc. has received a top score of 100 percent on the Disability Equality Index (DEI) and received, for the first time, recognition as a Best Place to Work for Disability Inclusion – an honor bestowed only on companies that earn a top score. Meijer was among 126 companies to receive awards at the Disability:IN Annual Conference, held this past August in Las Vegas.

"On behalf of all Meijer team members, we are absolutely thrilled to not only achieve a top score on the DEI, but to be named as a Best Place to Work for Disability Inclusion – a monumental achievement for our organization,” said Michael Rotelle, SVP of human resources at Grand Rapids, Mich.-based Meijer. “I am very proud of the progress Meijer team members have made over the years to create more inclusivity and opportunities for team members with disabilities. We are humbled to be among so many fine companies that share our devotion to inclusion."

This year marked the retailer’s second year participating in the DEI study. In 2017, Meijer achieved a DEI score of 90 percent. In 2017, the company launched a team member resource group known as Meijer Disability Awareness & Advocacy Group (mDAAG), whose mission is to advance the retailer’s commitment to respecting and valuing diversity and inclusion by service as a resource and liaison for all associates on issues of equality.

Meijer has also expanded its disability accommodations policy to include job candidates. Now candidates can request accommodations during an upcoming interview. Further, the company added to its associate training curriculum WINDMILLS, a high-impact attitudinal training program that integrates disability into the spectrum of diversity awareness. Meijer additionally continues to grow its involvement in state vocational rehabilitation programs.

A joint initiative between the American Association of People with Disabilities (AAPD) and Disability:IN, the DEI was created by disability advocates and business leaders as a comprehensive benchmarking tool for disability inclusion. The Index measures key performance indicators across organizational culture, leadership, accessibility, employment, community engagement, support services and supplier diversity. 

Of this year’s DEI honorees, retail and consumer packaged goods companies to achieve a 100 percent score were CVS Health, Walgreens, Walmart Inc., and Procter & Gamble. Those earning 90 percent included Johnson & Johnson.

Privately owned, family-operated Meijer operates more than 240 supercenters and grocery stores throughout Michigan, Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Kentucky and Wisconsin. It is No. 12 on Progressive Grocer's Super 50 list of the top grocers in the United States.