Normalizing the workforce: the reasons behind hiring personnel with special needs
In the ever-evolving business landscape of Russia, a growing number of companies are recognising the importance of fostering an inclusive environment for people with disabilities and different age groups. This shift towards inclusivity is not only a moral imperative but also a driver of business performance.
Yulia Bogdanova, head of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) at consulting firm Kept, advocates for companies to invest in inclusive programs for people with disabilities. "Around 10% of children in Russia have special needs," according to data provided by Bogdanova. Kept, in particular, develops programs for various age groups and supports mixed teams, ensuring everyone works comfortably together.
One such initiative by Kept is the "Confident Start" program, which funds innovative support for the youngest children with disabilities. The goal is to provide these children with a strong foundation for future success.
"JTI Russia" conducts the "Stronger Together" grant competition for Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs), allocating 12 million rubles in grants last year to support the institutional development of organisations working in the disability sector.
Irina Efremova-Gart, director of sustainable development at "MobiTech," believes that diverse teams involved in social initiatives generate the boldest ideas and innovative approaches. Building effective "mixed teams" is a key aspect of an innovative approach to work, maximising everyone's output for collective success.
Best practices for companies to implement and manage inclusive social programs for people with disabilities include adopting comprehensive, strategic approaches that cover workplace culture, hiring practices, accommodations, and community engagement. These programs contribute significantly to business success by fostering an equitable environment that enables all employees to thrive, improving productivity, innovation, and corporate reputation.
Anton Karpov, director of external communications for retail network "Magnit," states that the company has a positive attitude towards people with disabilities (PWDs) and is testing the mass hiring of PWDs. "Magnit" employs approximately 370,000 employees and has over 31,000 stores nationwide.
Other companies leading the way in disability inclusion include "Beeline." Ekaterina Kalyaeva, an expert on sustainable development at "Beeline," supports inclusive social projects and emphasises the importance of answering the question "why?" before implementing ideas. "Beeline" has inclusive programs such as a digital platform for visually impaired children, telemedicine projects, and an AI model that predicts hip joint pathology with over 80% accuracy.
"JTI Russia," together with the "Good City of St. Petersburg" fund, implements the "Seniors" active aging program in St. Petersburg, helping elderly people lead active social lives.
Olga Nikolaenko, HR Director of "Arnest UniRussia" (ex-Unilever), has built an inclusive culture within the organisation, with over 90% of employees feeling a comfortable environment has been created.
Katherine Levshina, manager of social investment programs at "JTI Russia," follows the principle of "think about others, regardless of their characteristics" and supports NGOs working with inclusive environments and vulnerable adult groups.
The concept of inclusion has expanded over the past decade to encompass equal interaction between various age groups, genders, ethnicities, religions, and employees with and without health limitations. Businesses need to understand the potential benefits of social, especially inclusive, programs to outweigh possible harm.
In conclusion, a strategic, well-resourced approach to disability inclusion that spans culture, hiring, accessibility, and community involvement creates a workplace where disabled employees thrive and the company benefits competitively and ethically. Examples from leading companies show that inclusion is both a moral imperative and a driver of business performance.
- Yulia Bogdanova, from consulting firm Kept, highlights the importance of investing in inclusive programs for people with disabilities, considering that 10% of children in Russia have special needs.
- Companies can implement and manage inclusive social programs for people with disabilities by adopting comprehensive, strategic approaches that cover workplace culture, hiring practices, accommodations, and community engagement.
- Social media platforms can be utilized to share stories of personal growth and success of individuals with disabilities, promoting diversity-and-inclusion in business and entertainment industries.
- Engaging in diversity-and-inclusion initiatives, such as those focused on disability, can lead to improved corporate reputation, increased productivity, and innovation, making it both a moral imperative and a driver of business performance.
