As Diageo teams around the world celebrated the company's annual inclusivity INC Week, Diageo announced the launch of its disability inclusion guidelines for employees.

Diageo believes that everybody should be able to thrive in an environment that values their contribution and celebrates what makes them unique. The company embraces diversity in the broadest possible sense, including gender, ethnicity, age, sexual orientation, and importantly disability.

Diageo's guidelines have been created by employees from around the world, and in consultation with Disability:IN, the leading non-profit resource for business disability inclusion worldwide, as well as Diageo's We Are All Able employee resource group.

Important information about the global disabled community

Available now in 15 different languages, the guidelines include important and up-to-date information about the global disabled community - more than one billion people worldwide live with a disability - the types of disabilities and impairments that exist, as well as guidance on the appropriate disability inclusive language to enable our teams to have confident conversations.

Practical advice for supporting people with disabilities 

The guidelines also provide practical tips and advice for improving digital and physical accessibility across Diageo, as well as considerations and adjustments to bear in mind during the recruitment processes, access to further training modules, and examples of how Diageo is supporting people with disabilities within teams across the world, with the partners and communities Diageo works with, and through the company's portfolio of brands.

Launching disability disclosure

Diageo is also launching disability disclosure, where employees are invited to share their disability voluntarily and confidentially. Disclosure enables Diageo to better understand its current workforce and ensure that Diageo is truly an environment where all our people can thrive and be at their best.

The introduction of disability disclosure follows the roll-out of confidential ethnicity disclosure in 2021. 

“Last year we came together across Diageo to celebrate International Day of People with Disabilities. Building on this celebration, we want to continue to raise awareness and create greater understanding in how we can all play a role in supporting those with disabilities – these guidelines provide our teams with further knowledge, tools, and guidance, to support those who need it. I’m proud of today’s announcement, another important step in creating equal opportunities for all," says Diageo Global Inclusion & Diversity Director, Caroline Rhodes.

“Disability:IN applauds Diageo for its Disability Inclusion Guidelines. Diageo’s efforts to create a culture of accessibility by raising awareness of the more than one billion people with disabilities around the world will internally and externally advance disability inclusion," comments Disability:IN Executive Vice President of Global Workplace Initiatives, Leslie Wilson.

“It has been the highlight of my 30-year career with Diageo to witness the collaboration across our business in the creation of these guidelines and the commitment to welcoming people with disabilities. I benefit from lived experience of disability with my daughter being disabled, and love the fact that through initiatives like this, and our internship programme in Scotland, we are breaking down barriers on understanding disability across Diageo and becoming more inclusive," adds Chair of Diageo’s We Are All Able Employee Group, Claire McKendrick. 

"Being disabled or interacting with a disabled person isn’t something to be afraid of, we don’t have to worry about language we use when we are positively intended, we need to be inclusive and interested and the rest takes care of itself.”

Work for a company where everyone is valued

Diageo employees do more than build brands. They're part of - and help create - a more inclusive and sustainable society, shaping a future that's worth celebrating.

Discover exciting job opportunities with Diageo.

Find out more