Lighthouse Employer Award
The TJX Companies
The Lighthouse Employer Award recognizes a corporation that has led the way in eliminating workplace barriers for people with vision loss. This year, the award went to The TJX Companies, the parent company of Marshall's, AJ Wright, HomeGoods and other retail stores.
This exemplary company has collaborated with our Career Services job specialists in the hiring of five Lighthouse clients at various Marshall's stores on Long Island, as well as placing several high school and college interns. In addition, several people were also hired to work in AJ Wright and HomeGoods stores.
Across the board, each store manager has been exceptionally responsive to the individual needs of employees who have different degrees of vision loss. Store managers have invested their time in matching these employees to the best possible position, following up with personalized on-the-job training and encouraging flexible scheduling to accommodate travel by para-transit.
Making these workplace accommodations levels the playing field for personnel with impaired vision, ensuring they have an equal chance to be as productive and fulfilled as employees who are sighted.
In short, managers never ask what a person can't do. Rather, they ask what someone can do - and do well. Interns usually become full-time hires, and in this supportive work environment, full-time hires become outstanding employees.
TJX and its family of companies clearly value and respect employees with vision loss. We applaud their visionary efforts and thank the company for serving as a role model for retailers across the country.