Mark Wafer, President Megleen,

Tim Hortons, Toronto

bh IN BRIEF

Tim Hortons franchises across Canada are now cutting edge, high tech operations within one of the largest restaurant chains in the North American quick service sector. They employ a diverse workforce that, as Mark Wafer’s franchises illustrate, includes people with all types of disabilities.

www.timhortons.com

Canadian Business SenseAbility is a national, not-for-profit organization run by business for business. Our goal is to help companies accelerate success through the talents of people with disabilities.

www.senseability.ca

In Canada, only a relatively small minority of people with disabilities are employed. Today in Canada there are 450,000 recent grads from the past five years who have never worked a single day. Of those, 270,000 have a postsecondary education. None of those potential employees are counted in unemployment numbers therefore we believe the real unemployment rate is about 70%.

“Unemployed … the disabled live in perpetual depression.”

Mark Wafer is a Tim Hortons franchised owner wth six locations in Toronto. He is an inclusive employer and has hired more than 130 people with disabilities over the past 21 years. His business success led to a new career as a public speaker. Born deaf, Mark is a leading voice for inclusion. He was inducted into the Canadian Disability Hall of Fame in 2014, and in 2016, he received the prestigious David C. Onley Award for Leadership in Accessibility. 



1. How did you become an inclusive employer?

My wife Valarie and I opened our first Tim Hortons location in 1995 and hired a young man, Clint, who has Down Syndrome to look after the busy dining room. Although I was unsure how this would work out I certainly understood the barriers Clint would face from other employers who were fearful of hiring workers with disabilities. To my great surprise, Clint became my best employee.

As my business grew, I hired more people with cognitive disabilities in entry level positions and I quickly began to see a pattern. These employees worked harder than the others, stayed longer, required no supervision, worked in a safer manner, and boosted morale throughout the workforce. I also saw a clear economic case for inclusion.

Since we had so much success with employees who had intellectual disabilities, we decided to open our doors to workers with all types of disabilities. The results have been extraordinary. We have hired more than 130 workers with disabilities; today, 46 of our employees have a disability.

2. Did you have support?



At first, we were provided employment support from local social service agencies that helped us with selecting candidates and with job training and coaching. That type of support ensured successful hires. On the other hand, we do not accept government support or subsidies for any employee with a disability. All of our workers with disabilities are paid competitive wages and all have meaningful jobs.

3. What are the major advantages?

• Economic – Typically, in the QSR (quick service restaurant) sector we see an annual employee turnover rate of about 100%. In our group of restaurants, the turnover is under 40%. Since the cost of turnover is about $3,000-$4,000 per front line worker, the economic case for inclusion is clear. Being an inclusive employer is simply good for business.


• Safety – Safety rates are higher because people with disabilities are less likely to be risk takers or take short cuts in the workplace.


• Innovation – Innovation is higher. One can imagine the problem solving skills a worker in a wheelchair needs simply as a result of having to think differently to get through a normal day. Different problem solving skills rather than academic smarts are the leading creator of innovation in the workplace.

4. How has inclusion changed your career?

As a result of our business success I began speaking publicly so that other owners could also benefit from what is a massive, untapped labour pool. Our success also led to policy changes at both levels of government. Audiences bought into my economic case quite quickly because the message was peer to peer. I had no vested interest in telling them they should hire from Canada's largest minority group – people with disabilities are 15% of the Canadian population or, framed differently, equal to the entire population of Manitoba, Saskatchewan and Alberta as a percentage of the population of Canada. Statistics say the unemployment rate for people with disabilities is 50% but anecdotally, we believe the real rate is about 70%. During the Great Depression the highest the unemployment rate was 24%; yet today at 70%, the disabled live in a perpetual depression.



5. What advice do you have for others?

Show leadership from the top. The tone and intent of a company is set by the CEO. Learn more about the advantages of hiring people with disabilities through supportive employment organizations or local service clubs. For example, I co-founded Canadian Business SenseAbility, an association designed to help corporations become disability confident. I also helped start a program called Rotary at Work to encourage Rotarians to create employment opportunities for individuals with disabilities. Understand that the case for inclusion is clear, not just for economic reasons, but because of the personal and social benefits that follow. Become a champion for inclusion.bh