Proactive Accommodation: A Series

BY NICOLE JELLEY

What is proactive accommodation?

When one does the infamous Google search, the first few results appear as follows:

It is not to say that sites offering skincare products and computer software services are not practical, however the search leaves the meaning of "proactive accommodation" rather ambiguous to the average knowledge seeker. So where does this leave one?

According to the Canadian Oxford Dictionary:

pro·ac·tive / proh-ak-tiv / adj. (of a person, policy, etc.) creating or controlling a situation by taking the initiative

In essence, to be proactive means to show initiative. Proactive accommodation therefore means to show initiative in helping others to adapt. Simple words that have a great impact when implemented in real life situations, particularly in the workplace. Sound easy enough? It can be.

The problem we face today is the lack of proactive accomodation that exist in many companies. Thousands, even millions, of dollars have been lost in the past because many employers do not see the true value in preventing the problems before they happen. The initial costs of "installing this" and "safety-checking that" may seem to weigh heavy in costs at the beginning, but when this may mean decrease worker burnout, workplace injuries, lawsuits, as well as the risk of company-wide embarrassment. Thus, it is no secret that the mentality and successful integration of being ready before the storm hits will easily reap its own rewards.

This series of blogs will further explore the implications of proactive accommodation and how it plays a crucial relationship with an employer's duty to accommodate in the workforce. We will take a look at the leaders in proactive accommodation through real-life case studies on companies that have had successes in this area, as well as the different strategies that are out there. At the end, perhaps you will be able to measure how healthy your company's duty to accommodate policy is, and what solutions may be available. Solutions that, unlike your ritualistic morning venti cappuccino, will pay for themselves. What's not to like?

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