RBC is committed to being an employer of choice for
people with disabilities and ensuring an inclusive and barrier-free environment
for our staff, our clients and the communities we serve. In 2003, we
also donated almost $900,000 to charitable causes that support people
with disabilities.
Barrier-free service
At RBC Financial Group, we strive to build an inclusive and barrier-free
environment that will earn the trust of clients and employees who have
a disability.
RBC’s policy is that every new branch and branches undergoing
major renovations must comply to barrier-free design codes and standards
for physical accessibility, and must have universal access.
Over 98 per cent of RBC Royal Bank branch buildings
are now wheelchair accessible, with exceptions being some historical/
heritage buildings, or older branches where there are physical or legal
restrictions on retrofitting.
We also regularly partner with national and local
groups to recruit and train people with disabilities for employment with
RBC, and ensure the workplace environment supports their needs.
Talking ATMs
RBC Royal Bank has 296 talking automated teller machines (ATMs) in Canada,
including 71 that were introduced in 2003. These machines are designed
to assist people who are blind and visually impaired, elderly and those
with learning disabilities to bank independently and privately. The
talking ATMs work the same way as any other full-service banking machine,
except that they provide audio assistance to clients, guiding them
step-by-step through their banking through audio prompts heard through
personal headphones. The machines have received high praise for their
user-friendly design.
RBC is also a leader in providing other banking features
for clients with special needs. We were the first Canadian
financial institution to introduce cheque-writing guides, large-print
cheques and Braille banking statements.
Accessibility in the workplace
A cornerstone of our commitment to workplace accommodation is the I
Make it Barrier Free program that provides managers with on-the-spot
authority to approve up to $3,000 per employee annually in expenses
related to workplace accessibility. Where this is necessary, on-site
workplace assessments are conducted by the Canadian Council of Rehabilitation
and Work to provide expert recommendations to the manager and to the
employee. Overall, our Workplace Accommodation policies are communicated
to managers to make certain they understand our commitment.
In 2003, a new training program
on creating an inclusive environment for individuals with disabilities
was delivered to over 600 employees in our Western Canada Operations
group. We also
continue to promote our Removing the Barriers reference guide and online
resource to help employees provide quality service to clients with
disabilities.
Program
offers skills training
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