National Disability Employment Awareness Month
Today kicks off National Disability Employment Awareness Month. To recognize this event, we caught up with Kristina Butcher, the co-leader of the Veolia Water Technologies & Solutions North American chapter of our newly formed Employee Resource Group (ERG) called the Disabilities Network.
We asked Kristina about her role at Veolia, her work with the Disabilities Network, and the importance of representation in the workplace. Here’s what she had to say:
What is your role at Veolia and your priorities in that role?
I am the Customer Care Global Quality Leader responsible for delivering a quality framework that drives compliance and continuous improvement in the customer experience cycle. My team leads internal audits, training, ISO quality compliance, operating experience and lessons learned, and partners with global process leaders and the Brilliant Fulfillment team on continuous improvement projects.
Tell us about the Disabilities Network and why you joined the group.
Veolia recently launched a new Disabilities Network ERG devoted to cultivating a workplace where employees feel valued, empowered, and connected across all dimensions of ability. The charter year focus will be on awareness, building organization knowledge on accessibility and support, and providing connection opportunities for our employees. Employees of all dimensions of ability are encouraged to join the ERG to help build the Veolia culture of connection and support.
I got involved with the Disabilities Network because I wanted to plug in at Veolia after being active in diversity and inclusion throughout my career. In addition, I have held previous ERG leadership roles in other companies and have a real hunger for connection and purposeful work in this space.
I am the parent of two newly diagnosed neurodivergent kids and am passionate about connecting with support systems and resources. My family's journey to understand the way the brain works, how to connect with resources, how to drive an Individualized Education Program(IEP) in the school system, and how to adjust parenting styles to help neurodivergent kids bloom has been one with many ups and downs in a short period. I serve as co-leader for our county's Autism Society of North Carolina chapter. I want to share the sense of support, friendship, and change I've gained in this experience, but on a broad scale, with the Disabilities Network.
What are you most excited about as it relates to the Disabilities Network?
I am most excited about the line of sight we have to incremental changes with business processes for support technology/site accommodations and a focus on awareness/connection to drive retention of current employees with disabilities. We need to foster a culture that potential disabled job candidates can see themselves flourish in.
Work has begun via a partnership with Disability:IN, a global organization driving disability inclusion and equality in business. In addition, Veolia is 1 of more than 400 corporations utilizing their Disability Equity Index survey process to assess and define opportunities to strengthen recruitment of persons with disabilities, foster employee engagement, and improve retention of employees with disabilities.
Why is visibility/representation important in the workplace?
Visibility of people with disabilities in the workplace is key to creating an environment of comfort where inclusion becomes part of the flow of the way we plan customer events, the content we share on social media, internal meetings/training we conduct, and on a personal level, how we interact with others and empowerment for carving out successful career paths. We need a transformation from awareness being on an ‘as needed basis’ to an everyday inclusive norm mindset where resources are readily available, and all employees know where to go, who to talk to, and how they can positively impact the culture.
