Registration now open for the 2021 Hire Me SC Employer Summit

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Registration is now open for the 2021 Hire Me SC Employer Summit, to be held online from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Oct. 13.  

The annual event, led by Hire Me SC and Able SC, provides resources for business managers, executives and human resource professionals looking to hire and retain people with disabilities. This year’s event is focused on inclusive hiring as South Carolina businesses continue to recover from the employment and economic challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic. 

“Data shows that individuals with disabilities had a higher percentage of jobs lost due to COVID-19 compared to individuals without disabilities, as well as a lower rebound rate to pre-pandemic employment levels than those without disabilities,” Sandy Jordan, director of employment programs at Able SC, said in a news release “As South Carolina rebuilds its economy, it’s extremely important that this untapped workforce isn’t overlooked.” 

Ashley Oolman, founder and inclusion consultant of Allied Folk, will be the keynote speaker. Allied Folk provides coaching and consulting for building equitable and inclusive spaces to individuals and businesses.  

Other session topics will include supporting employees’ mental health, best practices to recruit people with disabilities and working with legal teams to promote disability employment.  

“According to the Department of Labor, about 20% of people with disabilities are employed and 3% of them are paid subminimum wage,” said Christine Gantt-Sorenson, attorney at Haynsworth Sinkler Boyd and a speaker at the 2021 event. “This event will help employers identify areas where growth is needed and provide solutions to increase the number of people with disabilities in the workplace.” 

Tickets are now available for $50 and can be purchased online at https://hiremesc.org/employer-summit/. A special discount is available for employers who register five or more employees for the event. Interested employers can email hiremesc@able-sc.org for details. Society for Human Resource Management and HR Certification Institute credit hours are pending.