During the “Shift Change” campaign day, doors open to greater understanding, mutual appreciation and surprising insights into the work environments of people with and without disabilities.
Every year, the Federal Association of Workshops for People with Disabilities organizes a “Shift Change”, a Germany-wide event where people with and without disabilities swap jobs for one day. The initiative aims to dismantle barriers, foster mutual understanding and raise awareness of the diversity of professional skills. The disabilities foundation Behindertenhilfe Bergstrasse (bhb) and Freudenberg Sealing Technologies (FST) also took part in this special event – last year in Reichelsheim, this year in Weinheim.
Bridge builder for inclusion in action
This year’s Shift Change between the two organizations would not have happened without one particular driving force: Business Process Manager Annett Langer. She is far more than “just” the organizer – she is the bridge builder whose personal dedication made the event possible in the first place. She has been championing inclusion for years, visiting the bhb regularly, getting to know the people and their stories and maintaining an active network – both within FST and beyond. “Inclusion thrives on meeting each other at eye level. It takes people who build bridges and open doors – and sometimes a bit of courage to try a new approach,” she says. Having the support of her superiors is crucial for her: “We can only make a lasting difference if the managers stand behind these initiatives,” she says.
Insights into the work environment of bhb Fürth
Two colleagues who immediately stepped forward to join her in these new approaches and the Shift Change campaign were Luca Panzarella, Expert Talent & Performance Management at FST, and Jason Kohn, Expert Learning & Development.
While Panzarella rolled up his sleeves in Fürth, Kohn filmed the action. To kick things off, Patricia Keil gave Panzarella an introduction to the kitchen operations – from assembling sandwiches and peeling cucumbers to organizing the sales. He then moved on to the metalworking shop, where Maik Robertus and Marvin Liborius showed him how to make awning brackets on a turret lathe. “I was impressed by how much dedication and skill the people bring to these different work areas,” Panzarella reports. He was also struck by the openness with which the employees approached him: “I learned a lot personally – especially how warmly and directly people interact with each other here.”
bhb Fürth offers a wide range of work and development opportunities: from metalworking, woodworking, electrical assembly and packaging to housekeeping, gardening and landscaping. The goal is to provide individualized support to people with disabilities and offer a wide range of opportunities for growth – both within the workshop and in integrated workplaces in the region.
Workshop Director Udo Dörsam underlines the importance of the Shift Change initiative, especially at a time when social budgets are under pressure: “We want to encourage companies to give people with disabilities a chance in the primary labor market. Anyone who takes part in Shift Change knows what our clients can achieve.”
A visit to FST in Weinheim
Patricia Keil and Maik Robertus visited FST’s headquarters in Weinheim in return for Panzarella’s introductory day. After a stop at the company exhibition where Panzarella gave an overview of Freudenberg’s history and portfolio, he explained his tasks in personnel development. The visit continued in the FST Academy, where Kohn presented the professional film studio used for video productions and webinars. Here, Keil and Robertus took part in editing the previous day’s footage from the Fürth visit and designed a welcome poster for a seminar.
