Citrix has again been named to the Disability Equality Index® (DEI) Best Places to Work for Disability Inclusion. A joint initiative of Disability:IN and the American Association of People with Disabilities (AAPD), the DEI is the world’s most comprehensive disability inclusion assessment and benchmarking tool in business and exists to help companies make a positive impact on the unemployment/underemployment of people with disabilities. Citrix was first named to the DEI Best Places to Work for Disability Inclusion list in 2019.
More than 400 corporations leveraged the DEI to benchmark their disability inclusion efforts in 2022 using criteria including:
- Culture and leadership
- Enterprise-wide access
- Employment practices (benefits, recruitment, employment, education, retention and advancement, accommodations)
- Community engagement
- Supplier diversity
Businesses scoring 80 or higher are recognized as “Best Places to Work for Disability Inclusion.” Citrix again received a score of 100. You can see the top-scoring companies at https://disabilityin.org/what-we-do/disability-equality-index/2022companies/.
To help support employees with disabilities and their allies, Citrix created the Citrix Enabled employee resource group (ERG). We talked with Kyle Wiggins, a Senior Corporate Account Manager at Citrix, about the group and more. Wiggins serves as chair of Citrix Enabled and has been involved with the ERG since 2020.
How does the Citrix Enabled ERG support employees?
It has been an evolution. Phase 1 has been trying to bring information and programming to the broader Citrix population. Figuring out what we can do to make Citrix a great place to work for all our people and what tools can we give front line managers to make them better managers. We’ve done a lot of work in the last year on mental health, connecting employees with resources to manage stress, workload, and burnout so they can take care of themselves and their colleagues. Moving forward, we’re going to do more around neurodiversity because there’s a lot of great talent out there that just needs opportunity and support.
An inclusive workplace culture gives everybody the tools and resources they need to maximize their potential. Too often, individuals with disabilities are not given what they need to be successful. It could be something as simple as a hybrid work setup, which we encourage at Citrix. For example, companies can give employees the option to come in one or two days per week instead of five. For many employees with disabilities, that helps make managing a commute much easier so they can focus on their work.
What value does a group like Citrix Enabled have for an organization?
ERGs should help propel the company’s strategic vision forward, and that includes supporting the hiring of great people. People with disabilities have a different perspective on solving problems because they’re always having to navigate a world that isn’t designed for them. They don’t have a choice, so they build strong problem-solving muscles. Unfortunately, it’s a talent pool that’s traditionally underemployed. But they can bring skills that can be really valuable to an organization.
How can employees be an ally for their disabled colleagues?
There isn’t one way to be an ally. One thing not to do is make any assumptions about anything you see. You never know if the able-bodied-appearing person next to you is managing a disability that isn’t visible. Don’t assume that a colleague with a disability needs anything special or accommodating, but don’t be afraid to ask. Don’t be afraid to offer support or help.
What advice would you give to someone with a disability who’s in the job market?
Use a resource like the Disability Equality Index to find companies that are leaders in supporting disabled employees. It’s not just virtual signaling. Many companies make a serious effort to recruit and support people with disabilities. I spent 10 years in recruiting and staffing before coming to Citrix, and job descriptions are, generally, terrible. Don’t let them deter you. Just put yourself out there.
Employee Resource Groups at Citrix
Our ERGs cultivate a sense of belonging and inclusion at Citrix by creating safe spaces to support each other and educate allies; supporting Citrix through talent acquisition, retention, and employee experience; and supporting our customers and partners (both for-profit and nonprofit) by providing engagement opportunities based on identity. Learn more about diversity and inclusion at Citrix and our ERGs.
