Almost 8 million people with severe disabilities live in Germany - that corresponds to over 9 per cent of the total population. Inclusion is therefore no longer a niche topic, but should be on the agenda of every company that takes diversity and social participation seriously.

At Gemeinnützige Werkstätten Neuss GmbH, employees have the opportunity to take part in what is known as a company-integrated workplace (BiAp).

This particular young man had been by far the best applicant, tells Thomas Thiede, Head of HR at Kiepe Electric GmbH, a global manufacturer of electrical systems for rail vehicles and buses with headquarters in Düsseldorf-Hassels. He had not mentioned in his application that he had a disability. It was only when the future apprentice turned up for the interview in a wheelchair and with his companion that this was noticed. "We then considered internally whether we could offer this young man an apprenticeship, as we are not one hundred per cent barrier-free," says Thomas Thiede. However, solutions were then considered and he was hired; a decision the HR manager has never regretted.

Mario, 31 years old, GWN employee and currently on an internship for a company-integrated workplace (BiAp) "I've been with GWN in Neuss for nine years. However, at some point my supervisors and I realised that I wasn't up to the tasks there. So, I switched to integration management and got an internship at a large company. I liked the work and my supervisor was also very happy with me, but, unfortunately they don't offer BiAps. My supervisor then placed me in an internship in the warehouse at Novopress. I've been here for four weeks now and things are going really well. I'm packing, picking and also driving a forklift truck. It looks like I could get a BiAp here. Novopress offers me real prospects. Maybe I can get an employment contract here. That would mean more money, but also more independence."

Kiepe Electric GmbH, based in Düsseldorf-Hassels, is a global manufacturer of electrical systems for rail vehicles and buses.

Two more people with disabilities are currently working at Kiepe as interns with realistic prospects of permanent employment. Thomas Thiede and Sarah Schneider, Generalist in HR at Kiepe GmbH and primarily responsible for recruiting, got to know them through the social welfare organisation Arbeiterwohlfahrt gGmbH (AWO). "One of the interns works in the commercial department and one in the industrial department. Both are doing great and are now really well integrated into the team," says Sarah Schneider. One of the interns is even being considered for an apprenticeship.

Everyone involved sees the internships of the two young men, which have already been extended several times, as a kind of extended familiarisation period. This also includes finding out about the specific impairments of the new colleagues. Sarah Schneider and Thomas Thiede receive a lot of support from the AWO. "We are in close contact with the supervisors, who have already accompanied our trainees for an entire working day and come by once a week for a discussion to see where the workplace can be improved or processes optimised. We often find very simple solutions that can be implemented quickly," says Thomas Thiede. It is also important that employees with disabilities are assigned a fixed contact person internally. "Both interns are happy to work here and to be able to help. It really does noticeably improve the working atmosphere," says a delighted Sarah Schneider. Working with the interns not only helps to improve the working atmosphere - she has even noticed changes in herself. "Overall, I've become much more patient, I try to explain things better and more simply. And I pay more attention to what I say. Our trainee often takes metaphors or figurative language literally. That can sometimes lead to funny misunderstandings," she laughs. Thomas Thiede adds: "I haven't had any private contact with people on the autism spectrum. But I'm learning more and more about it and, with the help of the AWO, how to react better to the impairments in my day-to-day work. I think I speak for all my colleagues when I say that these employees are an enrichment for us - and not just because they take on tasks that relieve our skilled workers."

When the employment of the trainees is finally contracted, the AWO calls in the Integration Specialist Service (IFD) of the Rhineland Regional Association (LVR), which continues to advise the company and employees in everyday working life and can support Kiepe's severely disabled employee representative. Anyone who has severely disabled status but cannot find a job on the primary labour market can alternatively work in a "workshop for people with disabilities". For example, at GWN, short for Gemeinnützige Werkstätten Neuss, which was founded in 1972 as a gGmbH and offers people with physical, mental or psychological disabilities the opportunity to work and participate in the world of work. Klaus Hempel has been working there as integration manager for 21 years.

People with disabilities can not only relieve the pressure on skilled workers, they can also become skilled workers themselves.

His department enables workshop employees to find employment on the primary labour market after all. "We acquire suitable positions for candidates who have developed well and made visible progress in the areas of learning and social behaviour. There is then a realistic chance that such a person can be offered an integrated employment contract with one of our clients," explains Klaus Hempel.

One of GWN's cooperation partners is NOVOPRESS GmbH, a global company based in Neuss that produces pressing tools and machines and has been working with GWN in the workshop area for many years. GWN now also has employees here in a so-called. "company-integrated workplace", or BiAp for short. "An employee with a BiAp relieves the burden on skilled workers by taking over small subtasks from them," explains Klaus Hempel.

If a suitable candidate is found in the workshop, their qualifications are first worked out and a suitable company is selected. "At best, an internship contract is then concluded." If both sides are satisfied at the end of a six-week internship, the employee is offered a BiAp. In addition to large companies such as NOVOPRESS, the main cooperation partners for such jobs are daycare centres for children and senior citizens, as well as ministries, municipal libraries and Lebenshilfe e.V.

It is important that employees on a BiAp are given the time to gradually grow into their tasks and the teams in the company. "The scope of the work often increases with the duration of the BiAp. Trust must also grow on both sides," explains Klaus Hempel. Because one thing is certain: inclusion is a win-win situation for both sides. Interested companies can therefore contact GWN directly via the Integration Management department or Sales. There are currently 17 employees looking for a BiAp. •

People are considered severely disabled if they have been recognised by pension offices as having a degree of disability of at least 50. This can be due to physical or mental impairments as well as chronic or acute illnesses. The Federal Employment Agency provides interesting funding opportunities for those affected - the funding amount can be up to 70% of the salary and the funding period up to 24 months.

Words: Katja Vaders
Pictures: GWN, KIEPE

Inclusion benefits all