Annual Reports Annual Reports Menu Employment Retention Workgroup Members Employee Retention Chair: Brent Cleaveland Dolath Jewelry Karen Blais Citizens Bank Gertrude Blakey Lifespan  Sharon Brinkworth Brain Injury Association Diane Cook RI Department of Human Services Paul DePace University of Rhode Island  Elaina Goldstein Executive Director, Rhodes to Independence, URI Jeffrey Johnson Beacon Mutual Insurance Company Dianne Kayala Family Health Services Steve Kitchin New England Institute of Technology Mike Lynch Beacon Mutual Insurance Company Jason Martiesian United Health Care Kathy Mechnig MS Society Richard Passucci Raytheon KJ Payette CVS Arthur Plitt Governor's Commission on Disabilities Sandra Powell Department of Labor & Training Thomas J. Rossi T.J. Rossi Associates Joe Potenza Crossroads of RI Lauren Slocum Center RI Chamber of Commerce Amy Tabor Hardy, Tabor & Chudacoff Ann Wood MS Society Employment Retention Workgroup 2004 Annual Report In 2004, the Rhodes to Independence Employee Retention Workgroup was created. The decision by the Steering Committee to implement this Workgroup was based on the findings of the Rhodes to Independence Focus Group consisting of employees with disabilities. The participants shared related points of view regarding the critical issue of employee retention, especially the barriers to returning to work for employees who are newly disabled or maintaining employment when a person has a progressive or chronic disability. The Rhodes to Independence Employee Retention Workgroup met six times between February and October, 2004. The Workgroup included members representing private sector businesses, state agencies, non-profit organizations, educational institutions and consumers. The primary focus of the Rhodes to Independence Employee Retention Workgroup was to undertake fact finding on the issue of retention for employees who become disabled or have a progressive or chronic disability. The Employee Retention Workgroup goals included the following: Conduct an in-depth data collection on the issue of employee retention as it relates to the process of returning to work for employees who are newly disabled or maintaining employment when a person has a progressive or chronic disability. Complete an analysis of the data collected. Assess the current status of employee retention for people with disabilities and identify barriers to retention and methodology for employers to implement to improve retention. Write an Employee Retention Issue Brief based on the findings of the data collected and analyzed. Based on the topics identified in the Employee Retention Issue Brief, host presentations to discuss selected topics in greater detail. The findings of the data collection, review, discussion and analysis provided the foundation for the Employee Retention Workgroup Issue Brief. The key topics addressed in this brief included: Overview of Employee Retention: This section focused on the following elements: the cost of turnover, recruiting and training new employees; trends in employee turnover, job satisfaction surveys and exit interviews, key reasons people leave jobs (e.g., poor management relationships, job dissatisfaction, lack of career development opportunities, need for additional performance feedback, more challenging work opportunities, inequities in salary, limited recognition and work environment); the hiring process, use of job specifications, performance appraisals, coaching, mentoring, motivation, leadership and the decision to discontinue employment. Overview of Retention for Employees Hired with Disabilities: This section included a discussion of unemployment, job satisfaction, lack of opportunities to use full talents and abilities, discrimination in the workplace, not being offered a job when qualified, being given less responsibility than co-workers, being paid less than other workers with similar skills in similar jobs, absence of appropriate accommodations, impact of the disability, discontinuation of benefits, lack of employer awareness of disability laws, employee rights and the need for organization policies. Retention of Employees Who Become Disabled or Have a Chronic or Progressive Disability: This section emphasized outcomes for vocational rehabilitation clients, long term job solutions for potential challenges before a crisis situation arises, successful organization strategies, effective accommodations, Organizational Disability Management, compliance with relevant state and federal laws, maintaining open lines of communication, providing information or assistance that will assist the employee in applying for health insurance or worker's compensation benefits, providing accommodations for reintegration into work such as modified work areas, technology or hours, flexibility, and continued support to enhance a successful reintegration to the work environment. After the completion of the research and the Employee Retention Issue Brief, the Workgroup identified key topics to be reviewed and discussed in greater detail through presentations by experts in the field. The Employee Retention Workgroup presentation topics included: Employee Retention Issues in the Workplace: Overall Workforce, People Hired with Disabilities, and Employees Who Become Disabled or Have a Chronic or Progressive Disability. Review of Relevant Employment Laws and the Impact on Retention of Employees with Disabilities. Successes and Challenges: Issues of People with Disabilities in the Workforce and Perspectives of People with Disabilities A Broad Perspective on Issues of People with Disabilities and Disability Management Programs and their Relationship to Worker's Compensation in Rhode Island. The Employee Retention Workgroup held its final meeting on October 27, 2004. The Workgroup had successfully achieved its 2004 goals. Due to the formation of the Rhode Island Business Leadership Network (which will be addressing employee retention issues), the Workgroup members have recommended that the Employee Retention Workgroup be discontinued. In 2005, the employers who participated as members of the Employee Retention Workgroup will have the opportunity to share their knowledge and commitment to the issue of employee retention as part of the Rhode Island Business Leadership Network. Steering Committee | Executive Summary | Employment Retention | Housing Workgroup Outreach Workgroup | Transportation Workgroup Youth in Transition Workgroup | Annual Reports Menu About Us | Researchers/Publications and Toolkits