People
How Land O'Lakes is creating job opportunities for people with disabilities
What began as a pilot at our Arden Hills headquarters has grown into an ongoing program
Refilling office supplies. Cleaning returned laptops. Copying and printing documents. Stocking cafeteria shelves, fridges and freezers.
If you think this reads like a job description, you’re partially right. These are examples of past and current jobs at Land O’Lakes for people with disabilities.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), about 6.5 million people in the U.S. have an intellectual disability. In 2018, the Institute on Disability at the University of New Hampshire determined that only 19% of adults with intellectual disabilities were employed compared to 62% for non-disabled adults.
In 2018, the Institute on Disability at the University of New Hampshire determined that only 19% of adults with intellectual disabilities were employed.
What began as a pilot at our Arden Hills headquarters has grown into an ongoing program, with jobs in Dairy Foods, Mail and Document Services, Real Estate and Facilities, IT and more.
Opportunities for non-traditional employees
In 2022, we joined forces with Inclusive Networking, an organization that helps create employment opportunities for people with disabilities. What began as a pilot at our Arden Hills headquarters has grown into an ongoing program, with jobs in Dairy Foods, Mail and Document Services, Real Estate and Facilities, IT and more. This year, we plan on having two interns working in IT, and Mail and Document Services/cafeteria and have room for more.
We have also implemented the program at our dairy plant in Spencer, Wisconsin. They currently employ two interns—one works in Quality and conducts safety swab tests around the plant; the other monitors inventory in the parts room.
Jodi West, business analyst for Global Dairy Ingredients, co-founder of our disAbility Awareness Employee Resource Group and onsite program lead, is working to expand the program to dairy plants in Kiel, Wisconsin, and Melrose, Minnesota.
“I am incredibly proud of this program and the meaningful impact it has on both individuals and the workplace,” she says. “The program empowers participants by providing them with opportunities to showcase their unique talents and skills. In doing so, it also contributes to enriching our workplace culture.
“I feel fortunate to work for a company that not only supports but actively encourages me to pursue my passion projects.”
Watch the program in action
Inclusive Networking created a video about the program at Land O’Lakes. In it, you’ll meet former Arden Hills interns Brenna and Sam and hear what their jobs meant to them—you don’t want to miss it.
