MUNICH—Johannes Hintersberger, undersecretary at the Bavarian Ministry of Social Affairs, presented Wacker Chemie A.G. with the Inclusion in Bavaria—We Work Together emblem, which is awarded by the Bavarian state government to recognize employers who are committed to the inclusion of disabled persons in working life.
Arrangements are in place to assist and promote disabled Wacker employees, according to a company release. Supervisors, staff, human resource departments, employee representatives, representatives for employees with severe disabilities and health services work with Wacker's integration management to provide targeted support.
Wacker said it examines whether it can support the employee with, for example, ergonomic redesign or changed work routines. If not, it tries to offer the employee a different position.
Wacker has historically employed more disabled persons than is legally required. In 2016 (on average for the year), Wacker sites in Germany employed 1,101 disabled persons, which constituted 8.7 percent of Wacker's total employment rate in Germany. The legal requirement is 5 percent. Wacker's Burghausen site took on 11 disabled trainees in the past 10 years.
"It is very important to us to provide a working environment free of prejudice, in which all employees can contribute to the company's success," said Christian Hartel, member of the executive board and personnel director, during the presentation of the emblem at Wacker's Munich headquarters.
He said the commitment also makes good business sense, as it "allows us to keep skilled staff, and to retain valuable knowledge gained over many years."