COMMITMENT
Bridgehouse Asset Managers is committed to ensuring equal access and participation for people with disabilities. We are committed to treating people with disabilities in a way that allows them to maintain their dignity and independence. We believe in integration and we are committed to meeting the needs of people with disabilities in a timely manner. We will do so by removing and preventing barriers to accessibility and meeting our accessibility requirements under the Accessibility for Ontarians with
Disabilities Act (Ontario) and Ontario’s accessibility regulations.
ACCESSIBILITY PLAN
Completed: December 31, 2015
Bridgehouse Asset Managers will develop, maintain and document an Accessibility Plan outlining the company’s strategy to prevent and remove barriers from its workplace and to meet its requirements under the regulations.
The Accessibility Plan will be reviewed and updated at least once every five years, and will be posted on the company’s website. Upon request, Bridgehouse Asset Managers will provide a copy of the Accessibility Plan in an accessible format.
Training employees and volunteers
Completed: December 31, 2014
Bridgehouse Asset Managers provides training to employees and contractors conducting business on behalf of the firm on Ontario’s accessibility laws and on the Human Rights Code as it relates to people with disability. Training is provided in a way that best suits the duties of the employees and contractors. Training is incorporated into the new hire onboarding process and records are maintained by Human Resources.
INFORMATION AND COMMUNCIATION STANDARDS
Feedback
Completed: December 31, 2014
Bridgehouse Asset Managers will continue to ensure that its process for receiving and responding to feedback is accessible to persons with disabilities by providing accessible formats and communications supports, upon request.
Accessible formats and communication supports
Upon request, Bridgehouse Asset Managers will provide accessible formats and communication supports for persons with disabilities in a timely manner that takes into account the person’s accessibility needs due to disability.
Bridgehouse Asset Managers will consult with the person making the request in determining the suitability of an accessible format or communication support.
Bridgehouse Asset Managers will also notify the public about the availability of accessible formats and communication supports.
Accessible websites and web content
Expected Completion Date: December 31, 2021
Bridgehouse Asset Managers will ensure that its Internet and Intranet websites, including web content, conform with the World Wide Web Consortium Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.0, at Level A, as required.
EMPLOYMENT STANDARDS
Recruitment
Completed: December 31, 2015
Bridgehouse Asset Managers notifies employees and the public that accommodations can be made for applicants with disabilities during the recruitment process.
Bridgehouse Asset Managers notifies job applicants, when they are individually selected to participate in an interview or assessment, that accommodations are available upon request in relation to the materials or processes to be used.
If a selected applicant requests an accommodation, Bridgehouse Asset Managers will consult with the applicant and provide suitable accommodation taking into account the applicant’s accessibility needs.
When making offers of employment, Bridgehouse Asset Managers notifies the successful applicant of its policies for accommodating employees with disabilities.
Communication of support to employees
Completed: December 31, 2015
Bridgehouse Asset Managers will continue to inform employees of its policies used to support employees with disabilities. This includes policies on the provision of job accommodations that take into account an employee’s accessibility needs due to disability. This information will be provided to new employees during the new hire orientation session.
Accessible formats and communication supports for employees
Completed: December 31, 2015
Upon the request of an employee with a disability, Bridgehouse Asset Managers will consult with the employee to provide accessible formats and the communication supports they require to perform their job.
Documented individual accommodation plans
Completed: December 31, 2015
Bridgehouse Asset Managers develops a documented individual accommodation plan for each employee with a disability.
Accommodation plans include information regarding accessible formats and communications supports available.
In addition, plans include individualized workplace emergency response information (where required), and identification of any other accommodation that is to be provided.
Return to work process
Bridgehouse Asset Managers maintains a documented return to work process for its employees who have been absent from work due to a disability and who require disability-related accommodations in order to return to work.
The return to work process outlines the steps Bridgehouse Asset Managers will take to facilitate the return to work and will include documented individual accommodation plans as part of the process.
Performance management, career development and advancement
Bridgehouse Asset Managers takes into consideration the accessibility needs of employees with disabilities, as well as individual accommodation plans, when conducting performance management, providing career development and advancement to employees.
Redeployment
The accessibility needs and individual accommodation plans of employees with disabilities are taken into consideration when employees are reassigned to other jobs or departments within Bridgehouse Asset Managers.
Workplace emergency response information
Bridgehouse Asset Managers provides individualized workplace emergency response information to employees who have a disability, if the disability is such that the individualized information is necessary, and if Bridgehouse Asset Managers is aware of the need for accommodation due to the employee’s disability. Bridgehouse Asset Managers will provide this information as soon as practicable after becoming aware of the need for accommodation.
Where the employee requires assistance, Bridgehouse Asset Managers will, with the consent of the employee, provide the workplace emergency response information to the person designated by Bridgehouse Asset Managers to provide assistance to the employee.
Contact Information
If you have any questions on this policy or want to provide feedback, please contact:
Executive Vice-President or Senior Human Resources Generalist
Bridgehouse Asset Managers
6 Adelaide St. E., Suite 900
Toronto, Ontario
M5C 1H6
Email: aileen.gray@bridgehousecanada.com
Telephone: (416) 306-5747
Email: leah.brock@bridgehousecanada.com
Telephone: (416) 306-5706
Bridgehouse Asset Managers is a tradename of Brandes Investment Partners & Co.
