Blind and Visually Impaired Community
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Setting the record straight re Workbridge and Subminimum wages (self.Blind)
submitted by jmosen
Hi everyone, I have been catching up on this sub this evening, having fallen way behind because over the last few weeks I have been working on the We’re with U fundraiser event for blind people still in Ukraine, and those who have become refugees. For those who have been following that, it is amazing to see we have now raised over $103,000.
Anyway, as part of my catch-up, I came across the thread referencing my article in a New Zealand newspaper about ableist language. Comments are now closed so I would usually leave it at that, but there is a factual error I would like to put right. Before I do that, notwithstanding the denigration and personal attacks from a few, there was some interesting debate in the thread which I think reflects the variety of views in our community on the topic of ableist language.
I would like to set the record straight about Workbridge, the organization of which I am CEO. A suggestion was made that Workbridge, and therefore I, am a party to sub-minimum wage jobs. That is simply untrue.
First, Workbridge is fully disability led. Our Council President, Board Chair, and I as CEO, are all disabled. Our Constitution ensures that we are disability driven. We have employment consultants across New Zealand and our mission is to assist disabled people to find work. We do this from both sides of the job market. On the jobseeker side, we work on job readiness, positive disclosure, CV preparation etc. But even if you have the best product in the world, it doesn’t matter if no one’s buying. So we work proactively with businesses on their disability confidence. We work through the fears and misconceptions some employers have that disabled people are less productive and a health and safety risk. I think many of us would agree that the single biggest barrier we face is other people’s negative attitudes. Acknowledging the fears and talking through them is critical. That is one reason, by the way, why ableist language matters so much and is so destructive.
As many of us know, unemployment is a serious issue in our community, but we feel we are making positive progress, and to be even a small part of helping people obtain the economic independence and dignity of employment is a privilege.
While it is correct that unfortunately, New Zealand, like too many countries, does make provision for subminimum wages, this has nothing to do with Workbridge, which finds jobs in the mainstream labour market and has actively campaigned against subminimum wages for many years.
As a poster in the thread pointed out, wage subsidies are a different tool, and I think in some cases they may be a useful tool. For example, if the Government will fund half of a disabled person’s wage, paid at the same rate as anyone else would receive, it may create an incentive to give a disabled person a chance. If an employer pays, say, $60,000 for a nondisabled worker, but can get an equally capable disabled worker for $30,000 because the Government is paying half the salary for a year, it gives the disabled person a foot in the door and helps sweeten the deal for the employer. That is very different from subminimum wages, which we deplore.
Another programme we have here is that if an accommodation is a significant cost, such as expensive assistive technology, the Government will fund that equipment.
I certainly understand that people will disagree with a point of view I might express and that is fine, but I did want to correct this error of fact because subminimum wages are repugnant in my view.
It is great to have this forum where we can discuss such a wide range of issues.
Take care.
TechnicalPragmatist 3 points 1y ago
Yeah, I saw your post or your name, assumed who you were and remembered seeing that thread and thought oh wow. And they did that. And he’s on here.
I didn’t take part of it but definitely the stuff they piled on you isn’t right. Perhaps I don’t know if I completely agree with you, but some people can go pretty far.
I didn’t take part of it but definitely the stuff they piled on you isn’t right. Perhaps I don’t know if I completely agree with you, but some people can go pretty far.
jmosen [OP] 3 points 1y ago
Thanks. That’s OK that you don’t necessarily agree with me. I’m still enough of an optimist to believe it’s possible to disagree with someone’s point of view without demonising them. On my Mosen At Large Podcast which many thousands of blind people are kind enough to listen to each week, I often play contributions from people who think differently from me. If we have a strong enough counter argument, there’s no need to resort to abuse, and being willing to listen to the views of others with respect can challenge and even change the way we think.
TechnicalPragmatist 2 points 1y ago
No problem. And I don’t disagree with that approach.
redmarus 1 points 1y ago
This actually doesn't address the concerns at all, considering that a) disabled faces in high places are pretty meaningless, 2) you wiffle a lot about the mainstream labor market without explaining the role of the minimum wage exemption and III) if your organization is so organized against subminimum wages, why can't I find a single record of this online?
Hit dogs sure do holler.
Hit dogs sure do holler.
jmosen [OP] 1 points 1y ago
I respectfully offer a different view regarding the importance of disabled people in leadership roles. I believe that it’s one important step in delivering what has become the catch cry of the disability movement, “nothing about us without us.” History is full of evidence that when a minority takes charge of its own destiny, outcomes improve. For far too long, disabled people have been the people things have been done to and for, without consultation. We were expected to be the grateful recipients of whatever came our way. And you can bet that if we had more sway at legislative level, these minimum wage exemptions would have gone a long time ago.
In the blindness sphere, many game changing events have happened because blind people led the way, including many assistive technology advancements and in fact the invention of Braille itself, which was at the time opposed by some powerful sighted people.
When people see that an organisation is operated and owned by people who identify as disabled, it makes it clear that there is a partnership, that we are helping each other. I think the world will be a better place when there are more disabled people in all kinds of leadership positions, at the Board table, as legislators and occupying visible roles such as the media. People fear what is unfamiliar. When disabled people are more prominent, it will further normalise disability and the fear will diminish. I know that younger disabled people take heart from the fact that we have a disabled CEO. They realise that if I can do it, they can do it.
The Workbridge model is a progressive one in that our Council, who own the organisation, comprises representatives of organisations advocating for disability issues as well as the business sector and the union movement. But the majority must be disabled. So we’re all around the table, partnering to try and make some change. April has just ended, and we have assisted around 140 people into mainstream jobs as well as provided assistance to many businesses to answer their questions and put them at ease about hiring disabled people. It’s not always easy work, but when you know that someone, for the first time in their lives at times, can proudly answer the question, “what do you do for a living,” it is one of the most impactful things I’ve ever been a part of. We’re changing lives and we’re making a difference.
In the previous thread, you found a web page on a New Zealand Government website for employers who want to apply for exemptions so that they don’t have to pay workers in sheltered employment the minimum wage. Employers who come to us seeking such workers are told in no uncertain terms that that’s not what we do. Regretfully, these provisions are far too common in many countries. Blindness advocacy organisations in the United States have been fighting this battle for years, as have many here. This is a matter I raise regularly in meetings with lawmakers. Those meetings are not held online, nor are minutes published although of course New Zealand citizens may be able to request them under our Official Information Act.
I think most reasonable people will understand that one employment agency isn’t responsible for an entire country’s law, so I’ll leave it at that and keep trying to make good change. People’s aims and objectives differ, but if I can honestly say to myself that I made the world a better place, by helping someone, sharing a bit of information or even just showing them a little kindness, I feel like I haven’t wasted my day.
On that note, have a good day yourself.
In the blindness sphere, many game changing events have happened because blind people led the way, including many assistive technology advancements and in fact the invention of Braille itself, which was at the time opposed by some powerful sighted people.
When people see that an organisation is operated and owned by people who identify as disabled, it makes it clear that there is a partnership, that we are helping each other. I think the world will be a better place when there are more disabled people in all kinds of leadership positions, at the Board table, as legislators and occupying visible roles such as the media. People fear what is unfamiliar. When disabled people are more prominent, it will further normalise disability and the fear will diminish. I know that younger disabled people take heart from the fact that we have a disabled CEO. They realise that if I can do it, they can do it.
The Workbridge model is a progressive one in that our Council, who own the organisation, comprises representatives of organisations advocating for disability issues as well as the business sector and the union movement. But the majority must be disabled. So we’re all around the table, partnering to try and make some change. April has just ended, and we have assisted around 140 people into mainstream jobs as well as provided assistance to many businesses to answer their questions and put them at ease about hiring disabled people. It’s not always easy work, but when you know that someone, for the first time in their lives at times, can proudly answer the question, “what do you do for a living,” it is one of the most impactful things I’ve ever been a part of. We’re changing lives and we’re making a difference.
In the previous thread, you found a web page on a New Zealand Government website for employers who want to apply for exemptions so that they don’t have to pay workers in sheltered employment the minimum wage. Employers who come to us seeking such workers are told in no uncertain terms that that’s not what we do. Regretfully, these provisions are far too common in many countries. Blindness advocacy organisations in the United States have been fighting this battle for years, as have many here. This is a matter I raise regularly in meetings with lawmakers. Those meetings are not held online, nor are minutes published although of course New Zealand citizens may be able to request them under our Official Information Act.
I think most reasonable people will understand that one employment agency isn’t responsible for an entire country’s law, so I’ll leave it at that and keep trying to make good change. People’s aims and objectives differ, but if I can honestly say to myself that I made the world a better place, by helping someone, sharing a bit of information or even just showing them a little kindness, I feel like I haven’t wasted my day.
On that note, have a good day yourself.
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