Accessibility at Imagewear Canada Co. Ltd o/a Workwear Outfitters

Multi-Year Accessibility Plan

Introduction and statement of commitment

Imagewear Canada Co. Ltd. o/a Workwear Outfitters (the “Company”) is dedicated to providing accessible goods and services across our retail stores, distribution centers, and offices. The Company is committed to treating all people with respect and 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 meeting the accessibility requirements under the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (“AODA”) and its regulation(s).

 

In keeping with our values and organizational requirements in accordance with the AODA, and the Integrated Accessibility Standards Regulation (O. Reg. 191/11, s. 4 (1) (2)), this accessibility plan outlines the steps the Company has taken, and will continue to take, to remove accessibility barriers and meet our accessibility requirements under Ontario’s accessibility laws.

 

Policies & Procedures

 

Create Accessibility Policies

The Company has committed to developing, implementing, and maintaining policies governing how the Company will achieve accessibility through meeting the requirements under the accessibility standards set out by the AODA and IASR.

The Company has created written policies. The HR Department is responsible for maintaining and updating this policy.

 

Notice of Policies

The Company will make the various accessibility policies publicly available by digitally on our website. On request, the Company will provide the policies in an accessible format.

 

Accessibility Plan - Multi Year

 

Develop Accessibility Plan

The Company is committed to establishing, implementing, maintaining, and documenting a multi-year accessibility plan which outlines our strategy to prevent and remove barriers and meet the requirements under the AODA, and its regulation(s).

The Company has developed this Multi-Year Accessibility Plan in compliance with the legislation.

Completion Date: August 31, 2025

 

Posting of the Accessibility Plan

The Company will post such a plan on its website, and will provide it in an accessible format, upon request.

Completion Date: December 31, 2025.

The Company will provide this plan to persons with disabilities in an alternative format or with communication supports, upon request. All requests for alternative formats or communication supports are directed to the HR Department, and the HR Department determines, in consultation with the person making the request, what the appropriate format or communication support is.

Review of the Accessibility Plan

The Company’s HR Department has responsibility to review and update this plan as necessary every five years.

 

Training

Training

The Company trains its employees, policy developers, or uses others to provide services on its behalf in the future, such persons, on the requirements of the accessibility standards in the AODA, IASR and the Human Rights Code. This training includes: the provision of the provider’s goods, services or facilities to persons with disabilities, the purposes of the AODA and the requirements of the customer service standards, how to interact and communicate with persons with various types of disabilities and those who require assistive devices, service and animals and support persons, and what to do if a person with a particular type of disability is having difficulty accessing the Company’s goods, services or facilities.

The Company will also provide training in respect of any changes to the accessibility policies described above on an ongoing basis.

 

Development of Training

Training content has been developed by Fast Rescue Systems. The Company uses this training content, which is available via an online training portal. The Company modifies the training as needed to ensure it is appropriate to the duties of the individuals receiving the training. 

 

Retain record of attendance at training on each date.

The Company will keep a record of the training, including the dates on which the training is provided and the number of individuals to whom it is provided.

 

Information & Communications

 

Emergency procedures, plans or public safety information

If the Company prepares emergency procedures, plans or public safety information and makes the information available to the public, the Company will provide the information in an accessible format or with appropriate communication supports, as soon as practicable, upon request.

Feedback

The Company will establish a process for receiving and responding to feedback and that its processes are accessible to persons with disabilities by providing or arranging for the provision of accessible formats and with communication supports upon request. 

The Company will notify the public about the availability of accessible formats and communication supports, upon request.

Website and mailing address.     

Completion Date: December 31, 2025.

                                                                                 

Accessible formats and communication support

Upon request and upon consultation with the person making the request to determine the suitability of the support, the Company will provide or arrange for the provision of accessible formats and communication supports for persons with disabilities. This will be done in a timely manner and at no additional cost to the person making the request.

If a request for an accessible format or communication support is made, it is directed to the HR Department and responded to in a timely manner.

 

Accessible Websites and Web Content:

The Company will update its website and web content to conform with Web Content Accessibility Guidelines 2.0, Level AA. 

The Company is responsible for reviewing its website and ensuring new websites and new web content comply with this accessibility standard.

Completion Date: December 31, 2025

 

Employment

 

Workplace Emergency Response Information

The Company’s HR Department and Management has responsibility for this item and has prepared individualized emergency response information for employees with disabilities where required.

The Company will provide the information required under this section as soon as practicable after the Company becomes aware of the need for accommodation due to the employees’ disability. 

Recruitment: General

The Company will continue notifying employees and the public about the availability of accommodation for job applicants with disabilities in the recruitment process. The Company will continue educating its Recruitment teams to advise applicants of the availability of recruitment-related accommodations for disabilities and by providing accommodation information on its websites and forums where jobs are posted.

Recruitment, Assessment or Selection Process

The Company will notify job applicants, when they are individually selected to participate in the assessment or selection process, that accommodations are available, upon request. 

If a selected applicant requests an accommodation, the Company shall consult with the applicant and provide or arrange for the provision of a suitable accommodation, taking into account their accessibility needs.

When making offers of employment, the Company will notify the successful applicant of its policies for accommodating employees with disabilities. The Company notifies successful applicants of its policies for accommodation of employees when it makes offers of employment and communicated otherwise by the hiring manager and/or HR Department.

Informing Employees of Supports

As soon as practicable after an employee commences employment, the Company will inform its employees of its policies used to support its employees with disabilities, including, but not limited to, policies regarding job accommodations.

Upon hire, the new employee will receive an onboarding package that includes:

·        A copy of the company’s accessibilities policies.

·        A documented process on how to go about requesting accommodations.

·        HR contact information should they have any questions.

The Company commits to informing employees of updated information whenever there is a change to accommodation policies.

Completion Date: December 31, 2025.

Accessible Formats and Communication Supports For Employees

Where an employee with a disability so requests it, the Company will consult with the employee to provide or arrange for the provision of accessible formats and communication supports for, information that is needed in order to perform the employee’s job; and information that is generally available to employees in the workplace.

The Company will consult with the employee making the request in determining the suitability of an accessible format or communication support.

Documented Individual Accommodation Plans

The Company will develop and have in place a written process for the development of documented individual accommodation plans for employees with disabilities.

Completion Date: December 31, 2025.

Return to Work Process

The Company will develop and have in place a return-to-work process for its employees who have been absent from work due to a disability and require disability-related accommodations in order to return to work. The Company shall document the process.

Completion Date: December 31, 2025.

Performance management will into account an employee’s accessibility needs.

When an employee has accessibility needs, this is considered in any performance management of the employee.

Career development and advancement process will take into account accessibility needs.

When an employee has accessibility needs, this is considered in any career development and advancement processes concerning the employee.

Customer Service Standards

 

Accessible Customer Service

The Company is committed to providing customer service to people with disabilities, which allows them to access the Company’s goods, services, and/or facilities, including the following:

communicating in a manner that takes a person’s disability into account and upon request, provide accessible formats and communication supports for persons with disabilities

allowing assistive devices, such as wheelchairs, scooters, walkers, etc.

welcoming service animals and support persons

providing notice of temporary disruptions

creating accessible ways for people to provide feedback about how the Company provides goods, services and/or facilities to people with disabilities

upon request, providing documents in an accessible format, such as large print or braille

The Company will also continue to review and update its Accessible Customer Service Policies, as appropriate, and will ensure that they are provided in an accessible format, upon request.

Design of public spaces

 

Meet the standards for the design of public spaces when building or redeveloping public spaces

Workwear Outfitters will meet Accessibility Standards for the Design of Public Spaces when building or making major changes. For us, this typically applies to service areas such as reception.

We will regularly inspect accessible features and correct any issues within a reasonable timeframe. If a disruption occurs, we will inform the public and provide details on alternatives.

Accessibility Report

 

Accessibility Compliance Reports

The Company will file an Accessibility Report for 2023 and every three years thereafter.

The Company will continuously audit its accessibility standards.