1. Accessibility (AODA) multy-year plan
Statement of Commitment
Hutsul Coffee Factory (the “Company)” is committed to treating all people in a way that allows them to maintain their dignity and independence. We believe in integration and equal opportunity. We are committed to meeting the needs of people with disabilities in a timely manner, and will do so by preventing and removing barriers to accessibility and meeting accessibility requirements under the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act, 2005 (AODA).
This Multi-year Accessibility Plan outlines the policies and actions that the Company will put in place to improve opportunities for people with disabilities. This plan will be reviewed and modified on an annual basis to reflect the Company’s accomplishments in improving accessibility and to maintain compliance with the Integrated Accessibility Standards Regulation (IASR). The plan is available on the Company’s website and internal notice boards.
Accessible Emergency Information
The Company is committed to providing the public with available emergency information in an accessible way upon request. Employees with disabilities are also provided with individualized emergency response plans and information.
Status: Completed by March 2024
Customer Service Accessibility
The Company is committed to excellence in serving all customers including people with disabilities. The Company has put into place a Customer Service Accessibility Policy as required by the AODA. The Company has developed and put into place an Accessibility Standard for Customer Service Plan that: Allows assistive devices in the workplace.
- Considers a person’s disability when communicating
- Allows service animals in areas of the premises that are open to the public
- Welcomes support persons
- Informs the public when accessible services are not available
- Welcomes feedback by telephone, writing, email or in person.
The Company has made the Accessibility Standard for Customer Service Plan available to the public and staff by posting it on our company bulletin boards and external website. The Policy is also available in accessible format upon request. The Company has trained employees that deal with the public on the policy and will train new employees.
Status: Completed by March 2024
Accessible Information
The Company will take the following steps to ensure all publicly available information is made accessible upon request. This includes emergency information, such as temporary closures due to unforeseen circumstances.
- We will respond to requests in a timely manner
- When a request is made we will consult the person and take into account the person’s accessibility needs appropriate to their disability
- We will have a process in place for people to be provided with information and communication in an accessible format, and we will explain in writing when an accessible format is not feasible and why
- We will inform staff who may receive requests for accessible information on how to obtain accessible formats
- We will notify the public about the availability of accessible formats and communication supports via external and internal websites and Company bulletin boards, where available.
Status: Completed by March 2024
Accessibility Policies and Multi-Year Accessibility Plan
The Company will develop, communicate and train employees, interns and contractors on our Accessibility Policy and Customer Services Standard during the onboarding process. The Company will also communicate our Multi-Year Accessibility Plan to all employees, interns, and contractors. These documents will be made available during the course of employee on-boarding and they will be posted in conspicuous locations in our various locations.
Status: Completed by March 2024 and annually reviewed
Company Website
The Company has taken steps to make all new websites and content on those sites conform to WCAG 2.0, Level A, where possible. The Company will take steps to ensure compliance is incorporated into the Company’s website project management and that all websites and content conform to WCAG 2.0 Level AA by June 2024.
Status: Ongoing completed by June 2024
Training
The Company will provide training to employees, interns and independent contractors on Ontario’s accessibility laws and on the Human Rights Code as it relates to people with disabilities. Training will be provided in a way that best suits the duties of the trainees.
The Company will take the following steps to ensure employees are provided with the training needed to meet Ontario’s accessible laws:
- Train all HR staff on IASR requirements that apply to the Company and requirements by the Ontario Human Rights Code when related to persons with a disability.
- Train all employees, interns and independent contractors as appropriate to their duties on the requirements of the Regulation and on the Human Rights Code as it pertains to persons with disabilities.
- Train employees involved in developing Company policies.
Feedback
The Company will ensure that our feedback processes are easy to use and accessible to persons with disabilities by providing accessible formats and communication support, upon request. When an accessible format is requested we will consult with the person to determine the suitability of the format. The Company’s feedback process has been made available on the Company’s website and internal office bulletin board.
Status: Completed by March 2024
2. Employment practices
The Company is committed to identifying, removing and preventing barriers with regards to employment by evaluating existing policies and procedures in the workplace. The Company will ensure that accessible employment practices are communicated to employees, interns, independent contractors and the public.
Recruitment & Selection
The Company is committed to equal-opportunity employment and welcomes all applicants. We will promote equal employment opportunities for all people, including persons with disabilities The Company is committed to fair and accessible employment practices. We will take the following steps to notify the public and staff that when requested, the Company will accommodate people with disabilities during the recruitment and assessment processes and when people are hired:
- Let staff and the public know that we will accommodate disabilities during the recruitment and assessment processes upon request;
- If an applicant requests accommodation, we will consult with them to make arrangements to accommodate their needs;
- Include accessibility-related information in workplace documents such as job descriptions;
- We will notify new hires of our policies for accommodating employees with disabilities.
The Company will ensure employees know of the policies used to support its employees with disabilities and will update employees whenever there is a change made to existing policies.
Accommodation & Return to Work Plans
The Company will take the following steps to develop and put in place a process for developing individual accommodation plans and return-to-work policies for employees who have been absent due to a disability by January 1, 2025:
- We will develop individual accommodation and return-to-work plans for employees who are returning to work after being absent due to a disability
- We will develop individual accommodation plans if the returning employee requires some form of disability-related accommodation
Talent & Performance Management
The Company will take the following steps to ensure the accessibility needs of employees with disabilities are taken into account if the Company is using performance management, career development and redeployment processes.
- Make performance management accessible by reviewing an employee’s accommodation plan to understand their needs
- Provide documents in accessible formats, such as large print
- We will train managers and supervisors to provide feedback and coaching to employees in a way that is accessible to them.
- Consider what accommodations the employee will need and how to help employees with disabilities when considering career developments
- Consider how to help employees with disabilities succeed in our organization
The Company will prevent and remove other accessibility barriers identified by clients, guests, and employees as required and when requested.
Status: Completed by March 2024 and reviewed annually
3. Design & Redevelopment of public spaces
The Company will meet the Accessibility Standards for the Design of Public Spaces when building or making major modifications to public spaces. Due to the nature of our business, public spaces would typically involve service-related elements like service counters, waiting areas, and reception. Additionally, the Company will ensure staff-accessed areas such as staff eating areas/lunch rooms adhere to Accessibility Standards for the Design of Public Spaces.
The Company will put procedures in place to prevent service disruptions to the accessible parts of its public spaces. In the event of a service disruption, we will notify the public of the service disruption and alternatives available.
Status: Completed by March 2024 and ongoing
4. Accessibility Compliance Reports
The Company monitors our accessibility documents and ensures we adhere to the requirements under AODA legislation. This involves submitting Accessibility Compliance Reports on the following dates:
December 31st, 2024: Status – Scheduled
Feedback and Further Information
For more information on this accessibility plan, please contact the People, Culture & Diversity team at:
By phone number: +12262420398
By Email: info@hutsulcoffee.ca
[Last Updated March 4, 2024]