Eurofirms Foundation presents its campaign “We are changing the approach” in memory of International Day of Persons with DisabilitiesIt is celebrated this week on December 3rd. This initiative aims to raise awareness about disability in the workplace and create a significant and positive change in the perception of disabled people.
Discrimination unfortunately remains the main reason why people with disabilities are excluded, especially in the workplace. Unconscious biases and prejudices underlie this discrimination, as up to 95% of our actions are based on biases that stem from values and beliefs of which we are not even aware. So much so that Statistics reveal 50% less likely to access employment after becoming disabled. In Spain, there are more than 1.8 million people of working age with some form of disability, representing 6.2% of the country’s workforce. Of this figure, 638,600 are active and only 485,900 are working, according to the National Institute of Statistics.
Raising awareness is a key pillar of the Eurofirms Foundation’s work to create inclusive work environments. Participation is key to making real impact and fostering an environment in which all employees have opportunities to access a work environment, grow professionally, and feel part of the organization. “According to our inclusive environments report, where we interviewed 750 disabled employees, the figures show we still have a long way to go; because 44% of people with disabilities do not currently feel included in their workplace.
The “Changing the Approach” campaign highlights: We form the first impression of someone we just met in just 9 seconds.But if we can get through those seconds, we may discover that our prejudices were wrong. To raise awareness of this important message in society, the Eurofirms Foundation invites you to discover the stories of four ambassadors who are helping to break down prejudices and stereotypes surrounding people with disabilities.
In addition, the Eurofirms Foundation proposes a challenge on social networks: It invites you to reveal something unexpected about yourself, something that no one could imagine at first glance, in order to challenge the prejudices that we may experience, whether we are disabled or not. . With the message and hashtag “If you exceed 9 seconds, you will notice…” #ChangeFocus.
Eurofirms Foundation will also participate in Disability Week between 27 November and 3 December. offers companies a range of initiatives to raise awareness and create more job opportunities for people with disabilities. These initiatives include training on incorporating unconscious bias and neurodivergence into teams, as well as corporate volunteering that allows employees to have first-person experiences with people with disabilities.
For more information about the “Changing the Approach” campaign and the planned actions, visit the Eurofirms Foundation website at Changing the Approach – Landings Spain (eurofirmsfoundation.org) or follow us on our social networks.
ABOUT EUROFİRMS FOUNDATION:
Eurofirms Foundation works in Spain, Portugal, Italy and Chile to integrate disabled people into society. In Spain alone, they managed to integrate 1,484 disabled people in 2022 and they aim to increase this number in 2024. The Foundation advises companies to comply with the General Disability Act and encourages integration through alternative measures. Additionally, companies implement a support program for disabled employees.
The organization was a finalist in the prestigious European Diversity Awards in three categories: Charity of the Year, Diversity in Technology Enterprise and Outstanding Disability Network. This means they have been nominated for the charity of the year award for the third year in a row, thanks to their social action to include disabled people in the workplace. The Eurofirms Foundation is the result of the social commitment of the Eurofirms Group and works cross-sectionally across all lines of the group to guarantee equal opportunities for all people, regardless of their disabilities.