Inclusion in everyday working life - a project with a future
Inclusion means breaking new ground together. At the beginning of the year, HORSCH LEEB started a co-operation with the Landshut Sheltered Workshops to integrate people with disabilities directly into the regular labour market.
Inclusion is not just a concept at HORSCH, it is actively practised in everyday life. At the end of last year, for example, a joint project with the Landshut Sheltered Workshops was launched in Landau. They prepare hoses for HORSCH LEEB in various colours to the length specified in the order. The objective was to intensify this co-operation even further and to integrate people with disabilities directly into the company.
After several discussions with the responsible parties on both sides, a so-called external internship was created in the company. Michael, a committed colleague from the Landshut Sheltered Workshops, was recruited. He has been a permanent member of the HORSCH LEEB team since the beginning of the year. He takes on various tasks: Among other things, he ensures that the high-visibility jackets for visitor groups are properly distributed and hung up again after use, and he takes care of the supply of consumables. On Mondays and Wednesdays, he distributes fresh fruit in the departments - an activity that brings him into contact with many colleagues. He also provides active support with numerous tasks, for example in the canteen and with regard to maintaining the garden beds and lawns.
“He carries out all of this independently and with visible pleasure,” says Heidi Spranger who is in charge of this project at HORSCH LEEB and coordinates his tasks. She adds how important it is to respond to his individual needs and is pleased that Michael has become more and more independent. Michael himself is also very satisfied: “I really enjoy the work. I've been very well received. What I like most is that everyone accepts me for who I am,” he explains enthusiastically.
Currently, Michael is working for HORSCH LEEB six hours a day. After that he continues to work at the Landshut Sheltered Workshops. This vocational rehabilitation program ends in February 2025. Then there is the possibility of an external job. “This is always the big objective of everyone involved,” Heidi Spranger explains. Michael would then also work full-time at the company. By now, his support has already become indispensable: “When Michael is on holiday, he is really missing and a lot of things that you might not have had on your radar fall by the wayside,” Heidi Spranger emphasises.
Stefan Dengl, Group Leader of the Vocational Rehabilitation Centre at the Landshut Sheltered Workshops:
„From the Landshut Sheltered Workshops' point of view, the inclusion project is a success. In the vocational rehabilitation courses, Michael reports enthusiastically about his work at HORSCH LEEB. We also noticed some very positive changes: Michael has become much more self-confident, structured and balanced.
The Landshut Sheltered Workshops hope that the project with HORSCH LEEB will be expanded further and that more of our employees can benefit from these positive experiences.”
Future potential
‘Recognising people and their talents, integrating them and building good teams - that's important to us. We also take unconventional paths to achieve this. If origin and particularities become irrelevant in everyday life, we have gained so much with regard to a good co-operation - and it is really constructive for all of us to achieve a lot of things with our diversity,’ Judith Ehmann-Leeb who initiated the project emphasises. Building a team is also important to Heidi Spranger: “We fully integrate Michael into our team. He is treated and valued by everyone like any other colleague.’
In the future, HORSCH LEEB would like to expand the co-operation with the Landshut Sheltered Workshop to give even more people with disabilities the opportunity to participate in the regular labour market. The positive outcome has shown that inclusion does not only work at HORSCH but also provides a sustainable added value for the company and its employees.In the future, HORSCH LEEB would like to expand the co-operation with the Landshut Sheltered Workshop to give even more people with disabilities the opportunity to participate in the regular labour market. The positive outcome has shown that inclusion does not only work at HORSCH but also provides a sustainable added value for the company and its employees.