SoInAccess Employer Network
Empowering Inclusive Workplaces
The SoInAccess Employer Network is your gateway to building a more diverse, equitable, and inclusive workforce by tapping into underrepresented talent pools. As part of this network, your organization will unlock access to individuals with disabilities, justice-impacted individuals, and newcomers to America—each offering unique perspectives, resilience, and skills that drive innovation and business growth.
Benefits of Joining the SoInAccess Employer Network
Access to High-Quality Candidates
Gain access to thoroughly vetted talent pools through Southern Indiana Works, the WorkOne Career Center, and other local partners. Each candidate has been evaluated to ensure they are ready to contribute to your workplace.
Exclusive Incentives & Support
Work Opportunity Tax Credit (WOTC): Our team assists with eligibility determination and the filing process for this valuable federal tax credit.
Federal Bonding Program (FBP): Protect your business while offering opportunities to candidates who face employment barriers. We guide you through the process to take advantage of this no-cost federal insurance.
Recruiting & Networking Opportunities
Join exclusive job fairs and roundtable discussions, all at no cost. These events focus on strategies to recruit and retain diverse talent, helping your business stand out as a leader in inclusivity.
Professional Development Opportunities
Participate in our Lunch & Learn sessions designed to reduce implicit bias, eliminate stigma, and equip your staff with the tools to create a welcoming workplace for underrepresented talent pools.
Positive Public Image & Corporate Social Responsibility
By actively engaging in fair-chance employment and other inclusive hiring initiatives, your company will not only improve its workforce but also demonstrate a commitment to social responsibility. This can enhance your brand reputation among customers, stakeholders, and employees.
Join the SoInAccess Employer Network and become part of a movement that is reshaping southern Indiana’s workforce for the better.
Hiring Individuals with Disabilities
Unlocking Innovation & Promoting Inclusion
Hiring individuals with disabilities is not just an opportunity to meet diversity goals—it’s a way to enhance your workforce with valuable perspectives, skills, and creativity. At Southern Indiana Works, we believe that individuals with both seen and unseen disabilities bring immense value to the workplace, contributing to innovation, problem-solving, and fostering an inclusive work culture.
Why Hire Individuals with Disabilities?
Unique Perspectives & Innovative Solutions
Individuals with disabilities often bring fresh perspectives, creative problem-solving abilities, and adaptability. Their experiences in overcoming challenges provide them with the resilience and resourcefulness that can lead to innovative solutions and improved workplace dynamics.
Inclusive Work Environment
Embracing employees with disabilities promotes a more inclusive, diverse work culture where everyone is valued and given equal opportunities. This environment not only enhances team collaboration but also aligns your business with values of fairness and social responsibility.
Better Customer Insights
Employees with disabilities can offer unique insights into the needs and experiences of disabled customers. This helps businesses improve their products, services, and customer experience for a broader demographic, opening doors to new market opportunities.
Benefits to Employees with Disabilities
Hiring individuals with disabilities is a win-win situation—not only do employers benefit, but the employees themselves experience significant personal and professional growth:
According to the World Health Organization, employment plays a critical role in well-being and mental health. Work provides individuals with a sense of purpose, social connections, and personal growth, all of which contribute to higher life satisfaction.
Employment helps individuals with disabilities develop new skills, refine existing ones, and gain valuable professional expertise. With the right opportunities, they can advance in their careers, resulting in increased job satisfaction and income growth.
By working alongside peers, individuals with disabilities can foster social connections, break down barriers of misunderstanding, and contribute to a diverse and dynamic workplace.
Employment encourages individuals to advocate for their needs and rights, creating more inclusive environments for all. Their self-advocacy leads to improved accommodations and greater acceptance of disability in society.
Hiring individuals with disabilities helps challenge and change stereotypes. Their contributions in the workplace demonstrate their capabilities, shattering preconceived notions and promoting a more inclusive society.
Hiring Justice-Impacted Individuals
A Path to Workforce Growth & Social Responsibility
At Southern Indiana Works, we believe in providing second chances to individuals who have been impacted by the justice system. Offering fair employment opportunities to justice-Impacted individuals not only benefits the employer but also helps these individuals rebuild their lives and reintegrate into society. By becoming a fair chance employer, you can access a broader talent pool, strengthen your workforce, and contribute to social responsibility.
Benefits to Employers
Why Hire Justice-Impacted Individuals
Expanding your hiring practices to include justice-impacted individuals opens up a larger pool of capable candidates. This allows you to discover untapped talent that can contribute to your company’s growth and success.
Embracing second chance employment helps address labor shortages by considering candidates who may have been overlooked. Many justice-impacted individuals possess valuable skills and life experiences that can fill positions in your workforce and contribute to overall productivity.
Providing individuals with a second chance fosters loyalty and gratitude. Justice-impacted employees are often highly committed and dedicated, appreciating the opportunity to rebuild their lives through stable employment. This can lead to improved employee retention, reducing recruitment and training costs.
Hiring individuals from varied backgrounds brings fresh perspectives and problem-solving abilities to your organization. Justice-impacted employees often develop resilience, adaptability, and creative thinking skills, which can enhance workplace innovation and productivity
Companies that engage in second chance employment demonstrate a commitment to social responsibility and community support. This strengthens your corporate reputation and fosters positive brand associations with consumers, stakeholders, and employees who value inclusivity and giving people a second chance.
Hiring justice-involved individuals may qualify your company for tax credits, wage subsidies, or other financial incentives through programs like the Work Opportunity Tax Credit (WOTC) and federal grants. These benefits can offset hiring costs and enhance your bottom line.
Supporting Your Fair Chance Employment Initiative
Becoming a fair chance employer requires a commitment to providing support and resources for your employees. At SoInAccess, we offer guidance to help you implement fair and transparent hiring practices and create supportive work environments. With our help, you can ensure that your fair chance employment strategy benefits both your business and your employees.
Reduced Recidivism
Stable employment is one of the most critical factors in reducing recidivism. Offering jobs to justice-impacted individuals reduces the likelihood of reoffending, providing them with the opportunity to lead stable, productive lives.
Increased Self-Esteem & Empowerment
Employment gives justice-impacted individuals a renewed sense of purpose and self-worth. It helps them rebuild their confidence, achieve personal fulfillment, and take meaningful steps toward reintegration into society.
Skill Development & Vocational Training
By hiring justice-impacted individuals, employers offer valuable opportunities for skill development and training. These employees can enhance their existing skills, learn new ones, and gain experience that opens doors to future career opportunities.
A Diverse & Dedicated Workforce
Justice-impacted employees bring unique life experiences and perspectives to the workplace, enriching team dynamics and fostering a more inclusive environment. Their dedication to proving themselves often results in a strong work ethic and high levels of commitment to their roles.
Justice-Impacted Individuals Often Face Stigma When Seeking Employment
By offering them opportunities, you gain access to highly motivated, capable employees who bring resilience and a strong work ethic to your business. Hiring fair chance employees benefits both your organization and the individuals who need an opportunity to prove their potential.
Hiring Newcomers to America
Unlock the Power of Diversity in Your Workforce
Hiring newcomers to America provides employers with access to a rich, diverse talent pool, increased cultural competence, and valuable multilingual skills. At SoInAccess, we recognize that embracing diversity and providing equal opportunities for newcomers not only strengthens workplaces but also drives the overall success and competitiveness of businesses.
Benefits of Hiring Newcomers to America
Access to a Diverse Talent Pool
Bringing newcomers into your workforce expands the pool of qualified candidates. These individuals bring unique skills, knowledge, and cultural backgrounds that enhance team dynamics. Diverse perspectives foster creativity, innovation, and problem-solving, leading to improved decision-making and more successful business outcomes.
Increased Cultural Competence
Hiring newcomers allows employers and employees to develop cultural awareness and competence, essential for creating an inclusive work environment. This understanding promotes teamwork, collaboration, overall employee satisfaction and improves workplace harmony.
Multilingual & Multicultural Skills
Many newcomers possess proficiency in multiple languages, which can be a significant advantage for businesses with international operations or diverse customer bases. Multilingual employees help bridge communication gaps, enhance customer service, and unlock new business opportunities in global markets.
Strong Work Ethic & Motivation
Newcomers often demonstrate a strong work ethic, driven by their desire to succeed in a new country. Their dedication to personal and professional growth can inspire other employees and foster a positive, productive workplace environment.
Who is Authorized to Work in the U.S.?
Permanent Residents
Immigrants authorized to live and work in the U.S. permanently. These individuals may apply for their green card with sponsorship from a spouse or employer, and this category includes refugees and asylum seekers.
Naturalized Citizens
Individuals who have gained U.S. citizenship after living as permanent residents for three to five years.
Non-Immigrants
Immigrants legally in the U.S. on a temporary basis, including students, business visitors, and temporary workers.
Learn more about visa classifications and employment eligibility from USCIS
Benefits to Newcomers Finding Employment
For newcomers, securing gainful employment is a vital step in establishing their new lives in the United States.
Employment provides financial stability, allowing newcomers to support themselves and their families while building savings and investing in education.
Working in the U.S. helps newcomers enhance their skills, gain valuable professional experience, and create opportunities for career growth and upward mobility.
Employment fosters social inclusion by allowing newcomers to build relationships and improve language skills. It also helps them integrate into American society, reducing isolation and creating a sense of belonging.
Engaging in a diverse work environment help newcomers understand American work norms while promoting cultural exchange with their colleagues, enriching both the individual and the workplace
Stable employment can serve as the foundation for applying for permanent residency or citizenship in the United States, helping newcomers establish long-term security.
Newcomers contribute to the U.S. economy through taxes and consumer spending, supporting both their local communities and the national economy.
Join the Movement
By hiring newcomers, your organization not only gains access to a wide array of talents and skills but also plays a role in fostering inclusion and supporting the economic and social integration of individuals new to the U.S. Join the SoInAccess Employer Network today to embrace diversity and help create a thriving, competitive workplace.
