DISTRIBUTION CENTER OPENS UP JOBS FOR WORKERS WITH DISABILITIES

Walgreens' newly opened 12th fullservice distribution center (DC) in Anderson, SC, is the first of its kind to employ >42% of its workforce with employees with a physical or cognitive disability such as autism or mental retardation.

The drugstore chain worked with the Anderson County Disability and Special Needs Board and the South Carolina Vocational Rehabilitation Department to develop training for individuals with special needs. The DC features flexible workstations that adjust for height, touch screen computers with large icons, and easy-to-read signs to accommodate employees with a range of physical and mental challenges.

The Anderson location is the company?s most advanced DC to date. The center is expected to be 20% more efficient, compared with Walgreens' previous generation of DCs. As of now, the center employs 275 employees, with plans to grow to >800 within the next several years.