Disability Awareness: Providing Equal Opportunity for All

At State Fund, everyone belongs. We reach out to the disability community and provide equal employment opportunities for persons with disabilities. Our recruitment and accommodation of individuals with disabilities afford them the opportunity to gain valuable work experiences. And our contributions to personal development and independence have earned recognition in the business and disability communities.

Ensuring Equal Opportunity

State Fund is committed to ensuring appropriate representation and equal employment opportunities for people with disabilities. Our Equal Employment Opportunity Unit (EEO) reviews hiring practices to identify any barriers to employment of individuals with disabilities. Also, together with our Disability Advisory Committee (DAC), EEO aims to eliminate any non-job-related barriers to hiring individuals with disabilities. The DAC, composed of employee volunteers, addresses additional areas of concern on disability issues.

Getting Involved With the Community

State Fund is involved with the disability community through participation with various organizations. We are represented on the Statewide Disability Advisory Council (SDAC) and the board of the San Francisco Mayor’s Committee for the Employment of Persons With Disabilities. We are also involved with the Bridges Advisory Committee in both northern and southern California. Each of these committees shares a dedication to enhancing the opportunities of individuals with disabilities.

Cooperating With Not-for-Profit Organizations

Project HIRED:
Through Project HIRED, State Fund employs individuals with disabilities as temporary staff. Currently participants work in our San Jose, Oakland, and San Francisco offices, including our Home Office. Many participants have become full-time employees with State Fund.

Transitional Employment Program:
Working with San Francisco Vocational Services’ Transitional Employment Program (TEP), State Fund provides on-the-job clerical training to persons with disabilities for up to nine months. Participants work in both our Credit & Collections and Insurance Services departments. A number of TEP participants have also been hired as permanent State Fund employees.

Marriott Bridges Program:
Bridges is a school-to-work program established by the Marriott Foundation for high school and college students with disabilities. State Fund hires these students as youth aids and student assistants in the San Francisco and Los Angeles areas.

Recruiting Employees

State Fund participates in the State Personnel Board's Limited Examination and Appointment Program (LEAP). LEAP is an alternate examination and appointment process for the hiring of persons with disabilities.

Each year, our job recruiters attend several career fairs for people with disabilities. They’re also involved in community outreach programs sponsored by Goodwill, the California Department of Rehabilitation, and other organizations. Recruiters provide information about State Fund, the hiring process, and programs such as LEAP.

Earning Recognition

State Fund’s success at providing work opportunities to people with disabilities has resulted in the following commendations:

The California Business Leadership Network presented us with “Best Practice” awards in the categories of Recruiting (for our work with the Transitional Employment Program and Project HIRED) and Retaining (for our Disability Advisory Committee).
State Fund has earned “Employer of the Year” honors from Project HIRED as well as the Marriott Foundation’s Northern California Chapter of Bridges and Southern California Chapter of Bridges.