As the neurodiversity movement got more traction in the media, Lincoln Financial Group knew they wanted to take their next leap towards neurodiversity inclusion, not only in their talent acquisition strategy, but in every aspect of their culture. They knew there would be no better place to start than at the heart of the company, the original Lincoln Financial Group headquarters in Fort Wayne, Indiana.

When leadership at Lincoln Financial Group got the word out about the program, there was an outpouring of interest and support. Lincoln wanted to focus hiring efforts on their financial processing team where they were in need of talent.

Neurodiversity in the Workplace worked alongside local partners, Easterseals Arc of Northeast Indiana, to source qualified candidates and bring them to the Fort Wayne office for a multi-week, skill-based hiring event in October 2019. The training team, responsible for onboarding new hires, also dedicated time as event participants in an effort to make neurodiversity inclusion a key consideration in their onboarding approach.

The pilot event was a success, leading to full-time employment for qualified, well-deserving hires who were previously unsuccessful with standard interviews. These hires have met and surpassed productivity goals, taken on broader responsibilities, and act as essential members of their teams.

Lincoln is in the planning stages for future neurodiversity hiring events that will expand the program’s reach with more roles and different regions. The impact of LFG’s neurodiversity program has extended beyond their first hiring event and has reframed the way they look at their overall talent acquisition strategy.