Inclusion | Why hidden disabilities should be on your HR agenda

The list of items on your agenda is, no doubt, long and sprawling. Hearing loss is probably not one of your top of your priorities. In fact, it’s unlikely to feature on the list at all. However, there are a number of reasons why hearing loss should be on your radar – and it's not all down to ‘accessibility regulations’.  

5 reasons why hearing loss should be on your agenda

1. Hearing loss is something you will have to consider at some point. Of the 11 million people in the UK who are deaf or have hearing loss, 5 million are of working age. Currently, 42% of over-50-year-olds experience some form of hearing loss and this continues to increase significantly with age. With the state pension age set to increase to 66 for men and women in 2020, the number of older people in the workplace will rise. Addressing the accessibility requirements of your older employees will become increasingly important.

2. Failing to tackle hearing loss could mean losing your most experienced staff. The average age of a Fortune 500 CEO is 57, so it’s clear that youth doesn’t always triumph over experience. Evidence shows that unsupported hearing loss can lead to early retirement, so in order to keep top talent and skills within your organisation, it’s worth catering to the needs of the baby boomer generation and getting to grips with the impacts of hearing loss. Nearly two-fifths of business leaders in the UK do not feel well-equipped to help staff with hearing loss to stay productive at work.