Profiles in Diversity Journal
2008 International Innovation in Diversity Awards
CVS Caremark
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A Partnership for a Diverse Workforce
CVS Caremark is the largest provider of prescriptions and related health care services in the nation. The company’s goal is to lead in the cutting-edge development of diverse employment, training, and education programs, and to establish CVS Caremark as the distinguished model for innovative workforce initiatives. In order to help realize this vision, CVS Caremark has established partnerships with local, state, and federal agencies, educational institutions, nonprofits, and faith-based organizations. Recognizing a national trend that sees only 56 percent of working-age people with a disability in a job, CVS Caremark has maintained a commitment to hire and train people with disabilities. CVS Caremark tailors its physical workplaces and job duties to make the company more friendly and accessible to workers with disabilities. One particularly innovative partnership that formed in 2006 was with the Developmental Disabilities Institute (DDI), a not-for-profit agency headquartered in Smithtown, New York, with more than 30 locations throughout Suffolk and Nassau Counties. Serving nearly 1,000 children and adults with a diagnosis of an Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), DDI is the largest provider of services for individuals with autism on Long Island. It provides educational, vocational, and residential programs, as well as medical and dental services, for over 1,500 children and adults with autism or other developmental disabilities. CVS/pharmacy’s Long Island Regional office, Human Resources, as well as district and store managers, worked with DDI’s vocational department to ensure the placements were successful and employees with disabilities were properly trained and effective in a store setting. The DDI partnership has proven to be incredibly successful for both CVS and the employees the company has hired through the program. Since the start of the program two years ago, CVS has hired 12 employees with autism. Of the 12, nine are still employed. One of the reasons this partnership has been so successful is because CVS store managers have been open to carving out a relatively small job with a small number of hours for employees with autism. One success story is that of George Hanna, an employee with autism who has worked at a CVS/pharmacy in Long Island for the past two years after coming through the DDI program. Hanna
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works four days a week at CVS and his main job responsibilities include spacing (making sure products are aligned properly on shelves), cleaning, helping customers, and paging co-workers and managers. His favorite parts of the job are helping customers and cleaning, and he is especially proud of a certificate he was awarded for his great work. Hanna’s grandmother says that she’s seen a significant positive attitude change in her grandson since he started his job at CVS, and he has really learned about responsibility at his job. Hanna saw an opportunity to get training and build a career; the company looked beyond his disability to see the capable and committed employee he has turned out to be. DDI feels that employment opportunities for individuals with developmental disabilities are rare, and recently honored CVS for its willingness to hire and support employees with autism and developmental disabilities. The New York State Rehabilitation Association (NYSRA) presented CVS of Suffolk County with its “2007 Employer Recognition Award” at a breakfast celebration. Members of DDI’s Adult Vocational program nominated CVS of Suffolk County for the award in appreciation of their commitment to employ over a dozen adults served by DDI in their stores. The award recognized the collaborative effort put forth every day by CVS’s Long Island Regional office, the Human Resources department, as well as district and store managers to help place DDI individuals. Inclusion of employees with disabilities in the workplace is an important part of CVS’ diversity initiatives. In 2006, CVS received the New Freedom Initiative Award from U.S. Secretary of Labor Elaine L. Chao. The award recognized CVS for demonstrating exemplary and innovative efforts to recruit, hire, and promote people with disabilities, incorporating the principles of President George W. Bush’s New Freedom Initiative to give people with disabilities the opportunity to fully participate in all aspects of community life. Committed to building an outstanding workforce through the hiring, training, and retention of quality and diverse colleagues from all backgrounds and walks of life, CVS Caremark and DDI have worked together to unlock the potential of people with disabilities—which not only benefits the employees but is good business for CVS Caremark.