#EmpleaTIC, where job placement is what matters most

Last Thursday we attended the #EmpleaTic Forum organized by Down Madrid, a foundation dedicated to the labour integration of people with intellectual disabilities in technological environments.

At Dealerbest we always ensure and advocate for having a diverse workforce, which is why we did not want to miss this opportunity.

Training professionals and HR Managers, including Yolanda Fernández, our People Management Director, shared experiences on the transformation, adaptation and discovery of roles in the first round table of the day.

Noemí García, coordinator of the DEMOS Programme at Comillas Pontifical University, and Nicolás Redondo, president of the Alma Tecnológica Foundation, spoke about university training programmes for people with intellectual disabilities, which consist of teaching professional skills, training in new technologies, networks, browsing or equipment handling, and which also include a period of work experience in companies that has achieved a high rate of labour integration.

Given that the efforts of public administrations are not sufficient to provide employment opportunities for people with intellectual disabilities, the corporate social responsibility of private companies is absolutely necessary, as well as being an undeniable benefit.

Also present at the same round table were HR directors and managers from companies that already hire people with intellectual disabilities, who shared their experiences as employing companies.

All of them highlighted as benefits of these hires the improvement of the working environment, the improvement in emotional intelligence, the good fortune of having people fully committed to their projects, the benefit of diversity and, above all, having highly effective people in their roles within their organisations. Likewise, they all agreed that they have had no difficulties with integration and that the role of the job coach makes everything very easy.

What type of tasks do these people carry out?

The departments and tasks are numerous: digitisation of files and invoices, handling Excel, managing management software in different ERPs and CRMs, handling SAP, CV screening, medical registrations and deregistrations, tabulating questionnaires, procedures with FUNDAE, assigning services in processing areas, managing printers, communications for events or preparing meeting rooms, among others.

In departments such as administration, training and development, recruitment, reception and operations, they can be just as qualified as any other worker without a disability.

How do they feel about it?

In the second round table, the true protagonists of the forum told us: Camino, Frank, Jennifer, Cosmin and Jesús.

What does working mean to them?

“Work is like a friend, you have to take care of it and grow with it” Frank said.

“It is an opportunity they have given me and I am very happy because I have my own expenses” Jennifer said.

What has changed for you since you started working?

“I have managed to integrate, they have made me feel like one of them and I have friends at work”, Camino expressed clearly.

“It has always been my dream. Work has helped me grow in technological and social skills”, Jesús said.

What would you say to companies to encourage them to hire people with intellectual disabilities?

“We always give our best. We deserve a position because it has cost us a lot to get here. People without disabilities can learn a lot from us. The reconquest lies in the effort, not in the result. It has been proven that we give 100%.”

And, how do we all feel when we hear their words?

Emotional is an understatement! They have worked so hard to get where they are, that the gratitude and satisfaction they feel are enormous.

They are authentic, reliable, transparent, self-confident, strong, brave, daring, humble, grateful, committed. Great values for any organisation. How many times do we exhaustedly search in recruitment departments to find people with these values? How much money do we spend on training and follow-up programmes?

How does the hiring process work?

First, the Down Syndrome Foundation of Madrid streamlines the recruitment processes, as they are experts in finding the profile that fits the position we have.

Once the hire is made, the job coach accompanies the person with a disability for as long as necessary until they are autonomous in carrying out their tasks, monitors their progress, and resolves any doubts or issues related to topics such as communication, the relationship with their manager or the people in the department.

Finally, and most importantly, they facilitate the person's integration from minute zero. Furthermore, if you decide to hire after the internship period, they are always available. The support is unconditional.

At Dealerbest we were fortunate enough to get to know the Foundation and, through it, to hire Irene, who works in the Used Vehicles and New Vehicles departments in the document management area, and we shared the experience with all the companies that took part in the round table.

Irene is punctual, efficient, committed and has an excellent attitude. She also loves staying with her colleagues after her shift to share lunchtime and a few laughs over coffee.

Do you dare to hire?