Information and Communication
Costco will communicate with persons with disabilities in a manner that respects their dignity and independence in accordance with the Information and Communications Standards and applicable accessibility laws.
Feedback
Costco’s process for receiving and responding to feedback is outlined in the Accessibility Member Service Commitment. Costco will continue to ensure that this process is accessible to persons with disabilities by providing, or arranging for the provision of, accessible formats and/or appropriate communication support, upon request.
Accessible Formats and Communication Supports
Upon request, Costco will provide, or will arrange for the provision of accessible formats and/or appropriate communication support for persons with disabilities in a timely manner that takes into account the person’s accessibility needs due to disability. Costco will consult with the person making the request in determining the suitability of an accessible format or communication support.
Accessible Emergency Information
Costco is committed to providing its members with publicly available emergency information in an accessible format and/or with appropriate communication support, upon request.
Web Accessibility
Costco will ensure that all new websites and website content within its control conform to WCAG 2.0 in accordance with the Integrated Accessibility Standards Regulation.
Recruitment and Employment
We will ensure that every person with a disability has an equal opportunity with respect to recruiting, hiring, career development, performance management, advancement and redeployment, without discrimination, and receives accommodations where required, in accordance with applicable human rights and accessibility laws.
Training
Where accessible legislations apply, Costco will ensure all employees, students, persons participating in the development and approval of Costco’s policies, and others who provide goods, services or facilities on behalf of Costco are trained on:
- applicable accessibility laws;
- applicable human rights laws as they relate to people with disabilities; and
- Costco’s policies and plans thereunder.
Training will be appropriate to the duties performed by the individual. Where accessible legislations apply, training will be provided as soon as practicable after an individual begins working, volunteering or otherwise providing services necessitating training. Costco will ensure that training is provided on any changes to relevant policies on an ongoing basis.
Training records specifying when training was done and how many employees took the training are kept and maintained on Costco’s Learning Management System (LMS). The Accessibility training record can be made available in an accessible format and/or with appropriate communication support, upon request.
Recruitment, Assessment or Selection Process
Costco will ensure that job postings specify that accommodation is available for applicants with disabilities during the recruitment and interview/assessment processes.
Where accessible legislations apply, Costco will train its staff involved in recruitment and hiring to notify job applicants, when they are individually selected to participate further in an assessment or selection process that accommodations are available upon request in relation to the materials or processes to be used.
During the phone screening process, Costco informs applicants that accommodation is available. If a selected applicant requests an accommodation, Costco will consult with the applicant and provide, or arrange for the provisions of, a suitable accommodation in a manner that takes into account the applicant’s accessibility needs due to disability.
Notice to Successful Applicants
When making offers of employment, Costco will notify the successful applicant of its policies for accommodating employees with disabilities, as well as information on where and how to obtain copies of such policies, including in accessible formats.
Informing Employees of Supports
Costco will inform its employees of its policies (and any updates to those policies) used to support employees with disabilities. Such policies include, but are not limited to: the Individual Accommodation Plan Policy, the Return to Work Policy, and the Emergency Evacuation Policy. This information will be provided to new employees as soon as practicable after they commence employment with Costco.
Accessible Formats and Communication Supports for Employees
Upon the request of an employee with a disability, Costco will consult with the employee to provide, or arrange for the provision of, accessible formats and communication supports for information that is needed to perform their job, and information that is generally available to other employees. In determining the suitability of an accessible format or communication support, Costco will consult with the employee making the request.
Workplace Emergency Response Information
Costco will provide individualized workplace emergency response information to employees who have a disability, if the disability is such that the individualized information is necessary, and if Costco is aware of the need for accommodation due to the employee’s disability. Costco will provide this information as soon as practicable after becoming aware of the need for accommodation.
Where the employee requires assistance, Costco will, with the consent of the employee, provide the workplace emergency response information to the person designated by Costco to provide assistance to the employee.
Documented Individual Accommodation Plans
Costco has a process for developing individual accommodation plans for employees that require accommodation in the workplace as set out in the Individual Accommodation Plan Policy.
If requested, information regarding accessible formats and communication supports provided will also be included in individual accommodation plans.
Return to Work Process
Costco is committed to safely returning employees who have been absent from the workplace to work, with or without accommodation, at the earliest opportunity. To do so, Costco has developed the Return to Work Policy. This return to work process will not replace or override any other return to work process created by or under any other statute (i.e., the Workplace Safety Insurance Act, 1997 or other workers compensation legislation).
Accessibility Needs Considered
Costco will take the following steps to ensure the accessibility needs of employees with disabilities are taken into account if Costco uses performance management, career development and redeployment processes:
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Costco will take the accessibility needs of employees with disabilities and, as applicable, their individualized accommodation plans, into account in assessments of performance.
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Costco will take into account the accessibility needs of employees with disabilities when providing career development and advancement to its employees with disabilities.
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Costco will take into account the accessibility needs of employees with disabilities when redeploying employees, as that term is understood in applicable accessibility laws.
