Long-term productivity gains can easily offset the initial cost of an accommodation. Research suggests that people with disabilities are more effective in their jobs than their non-disabled colleagues. It compared employees with and without disabilities in terms of Safety, Attendance and Job performance. See Figure 2. An unexpected dividend of accommodating is that non-disabled employees benefit too.
Accommodations are a source of improved work practices.
Through collaborating with an accommodation consultant, the employee may discover that leaning ones hands on a wrist-rest increases, not decreases, typing strain. When an injured worker receives appropriate equipment and good advice, co-workers are likely to notice and adopt the improved measures as well. The result is a safer, more productive workplace for everybody. By accommodating its employees a company saves money and cultivates a competent, effective, diverse and healthy workforce. The interests of a company are served best by retaining people with injuries and disabilities.