Wipro has been a leader in disability inclusion for over a decade. They consistently hire employees with disabilities and demonstrate a meaningful commitment to inclusive hiring practices. This disability inclusion in Wipro has earned them numerous accolades. These include the title of ‘Best Employer for Persons with Disabilities’ and the 2nd runner-up for ‘Best Employer for D&I’ at the 2nd ASSOCHAM I&D Excellence Awards. In FY22, the company held the rank of one of the top employers of differently-abled individuals.
On Global Accessibility Awareness Day (GAAD), Wipro reinforced its commitment to inclusivity, focusing on over one billion people with disabilities worldwide. Throughout May, the company marked GAAD with various initiatives. These initiatives include experience zones at Wipro’s Bengaluru offices in collaboration with the Association of Persons with Disabilities. Additionally, Wipro held workshops with Microsoft and Lab 45, where senior leaders discussed accessibility and its importance.
Disability inclusion in Wipro: Visibility and equality in the workplace
Since 2008, Wipro has actively hired differently-abled employees based on their skills and qualifications. The company ensures that these individuals are considered for all roles within the company. This approach avoids assigning them to specific jobs or roles. Instead, the company integrates them into various positions and departments, just like any other employee.
Overall, this strategy supports a more inclusive culture where differently-abled employees are entirely welcome into the company since it:
- Avoids special treatment: Hiring based on merit for all positions ensures that differently-abled individuals work as regular employees, not in special roles. This approach promotes fairness and equality. Moreover, it removes any sense of preferential treatment. It also shows that the company values all employees for their skills and contributions.
- Counters stigma: This visibility leads to a better understanding and acceptance of their abilities, showing that they can perform well in many different roles, just like any other employee.
- Reduces isolation: This practice prevents isolation, creating a more inclusive and collaborative work environment.
Disability inclusion in Wipro: The CREATE framework
Wipro’s CREATE framework encapsulates the company’s commitment to disability inclusion. CREATE stands for Career, Recruitment, Enablement, Accessibility, Training, and Engagement. This framework ensures that employees with disabilities (PwD) have real opportunities for career growth and development. Wipro has also established Equal Opportunity and Reasonable Accommodation Policies, which align with the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act 2016.
To further support disability inclusion, Wipro has an Employee Resource Group for Persons with Disabilities. It includes both employees with and without disabilities. This initiative aims to ensure that differently-abled employees can perform on par with their colleagues. Additionally, Wipro offers a Peer Support Group for employees with disabilities, providing a platform to share experiences, seek support, and collaborate on promoting inclusion within the company.
Recent developments promoting disability inclusion in Wipro
Wipro’s recent recruitment efforts have focused on hiring Persons with Disabilities (PwD) and BCA or B.Sc. graduates from the 2021, 2022, and 2023 batches. In a significant milestone, Wipro offered jobs to six hearing-impaired students from the National Institute of Speech & Hearing (NISH) at their Global Services Management Centre in Mysore. Wipro also provided these students with a fully-funded Master’s degree from BITS Pilani. That marks the first instance where Wipro Academy for Software Excellence enrolled disabled students.
Currently, Wipro employs over 578 individuals with disabilities across various roles. These individuals represent 13 different types of disabilities, including sensory, intellectual, psychosocial, locomotor, and blood disorders. Whether a disability is visible or not, present at the time of hiring or developed later, Wipro has initiatives and policies in place to support each concern.
The final thoughts
Wipro’s consistent hiring of employees with disabilities over the past decade reflects a long-term commitment to true inclusion, avoiding mere tokenism. Through initiatives like the CREATE framework and the establishment of support groups, Wipro ensures equal opportunities for all employees while cultivating an inclusive workplace. Their approach serves as a model for how companies can achieve genuine inclusion without isolating or singling out differently-abled employees.
Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article are based on the writer’s insights, supported by data and resources available both online and offline, as applicable. Changeincontent.com is committed to promoting inclusivity across all forms of content, which we broadly define as media, policies, law, and history—encompassing all elements that influence the lives of women and gender-queer individuals. Our goal is to promote understanding and advocate for comprehensive inclusivity.
