Inclusion in the workplace is becoming increasingly important. The STIWA Group is actively committed to ensuring that all employees can participate in working life on an equal footing, regardless of their individual needs or limitations. But what does inclusion mean in concrete terms at STIWA? Five of our employees share their experiences and thoughts on this topic.
Inclusion in the workplace is an important element of a modern corporate culture and has evolved into a key topic in today‘s working world, and of course also at STIWA. STIWA‘s aim is to ensure that all employees can participate and contribute to working life on an equal footing. This way, everyone benefits from a diverse workforce that contributes different ideas, perspectives and skills, making them more innovative and successful. Inclusion not only means breaking down physical barriers and making the working environment accessible to people with different abilities, but also promoting a strong culture of acceptance, respect and recognition.
Despite my severe hearing loss, I manage my day-to-day work with the help of cochlear implants, or CIs in short, which were implanted when I was still a small child. However, larger groups, noisy environments and phone calls with poor acoustics are still a challenge for me.
As my CIs already have a Bluetooth connection, I can connect my hearing aids directly to my cell phone, which makes it much easier for me to make phone calls. In face-to-face conversations, it‘s important that people look directly at me, as I can also lip-read a little, and I simply have to be patient if I don‘t understand something acoustically straight away.
Personally, I‘m happy whenever someone shows interest and asks me about my hearing aid. Don‘t be shy and just talk about it!
Johanna Köttl
Due to my deafness, I communicate with my colleagues by reading mouth pictures, which can be very exhausting. Occasionally, we also communicate by writing on paper. At important meetings, there are two sign language interpreters on site who translate into German Sign Language (DSG). Telephone aids, such as Tess Relay, help me make phone calls without any communication barriers. Tess Relay is a service offered specifically for deaf people, where a sign language interpreter translates between the callers.
I would like to encourage anyone who has a deaf colleague to take sign language courses and not to be afraid to communicate in sign language!
Sivare Inna
Since my work accident in 2009, I have been completely paraplegic, but I can walk again without walking aids. For longer distances, however, I use an electric scooter for support.
I‘m happy with the support I get at my immediate workplace. As soon as I need help, it is given to me immediately.
Stefan Schimpl
I have profound hearing loss bordering on deafness, but I can hear relatively well with my cochlear implants. I find it particularly difficult to make phone calls to strangers and to follow conversations in noisy environments, such as the production hall in parts manufacturing.
In direct conversation, it is important that people speak slowly, clearly and with direct eye contact so I can read their lips, especially when talking to strangers. Personally, it doesn‘t bother me at all if someone asks me about my cochlear implants - quite the opposite, don‘t be afraid to address the topic!
Matthias Köttl
Due to my incomplete spinal cord injury, I cannot consciously control my left leg 100%. Nevertheless, I am able to walk short distances. As digitalization progresses, not only have the distances to the various departments such as A KO AP and MACH WP become shorter, but some meetings now can also take place via Teams.
Fortunately, height-adjustable desks are standard in the new office building in Attnang-Puchheim, which makes my job easier.
For people with disabilities, it is very important to be perceived and treated as normal people.
Andreas Hötzinger
