Hypertherm recognizes the potential barriers to employment for those with varying abilities and actively seeks to remove barriers and provide appropriate supports so that more people in our communities may thrive through meaningful employment.

Hypertherm established a strategic relationship in 2018 with Creative Workforce Solutions, an employment initiative of the Vermont Agency of Human Services, serving both jobseekers and employers across Vermont by offering consistent, coordinated workforce development in local communities.

Through collaboration with CWS to understand the barriers to employment, Hypertherm offers full accommodations for candidates and employees including job coaching, assistive technology, supportive substance abuse policies, and worksite assessments. In addition, Hypertherm provides accessibility and accommodations at the Hypertherm Technical Training Institute, its internal machine operator training program.

"Many businesses have adopted diverse, inclusive hiring practices that accommodate and support individuals with disabilities and other barriers to employment," said Amanda Moore, Business Account Manager for Creative Workforce Solutions. "However, Hypertherm has gone even further-above and beyond really-to truly support these individuals by actively recruiting, hiring, supporting, and accommodating people with a wide range of disabilities and barriers to employment. This extraordinary success can be attributed to Hypertherm embodying the diverse, inclusive practices that are essential for the support of individuals with disabilities and barriers to employment."

Since the start of 2018, more than 50 CWS clients have found successful employment at Hypertherm, 90% of whom are still employed with Hypertherm in positions across the organization, including in material handling, packaging, and machining. In 2020 earned Hypertherm the Creative Workforce Solutions Award of Excellence, a newly created award to recognize Hypertherm's work in hiring and supporting individuals with disabilities or other significant employment barriers.