Talent has no limitations

Diverse group, wide-ranging needs

People with a disability are extremely diverse. So are the working conditions under which they perform best. Wheelchair users need good facilities and smart aids, while some people with autism benefit from coaching and individuals with chronic illnesses often require flexible working hours. However different they may be, they all have something in common: their occupational disability often prevents them from applying their talents to paid employment.

Help to secure a regular job

With the right facilities, agreements and supervision, these individuals can make a genuine contribution to their employer and to society. They just need to be given the chance. The government and employers have therefore made specific agreements about this: by 2025, 125.000 extra jobs must have been created for people suffering from an occupational disability. There are currently 125 such people working for ABN AMRO; this must rise to at least 225. Each of whom must have a regular job and a matching salary. By doing so, we hope to promote their financial independence.

Existing or new jobs

In the context of our B-Able programme, we will seek to identify suitable jobs at ABN AMRO for people with an occupational disability. Once they have joined us, we will offer them supervision through the B-Able Desk. This will involve close cooperation with all the business lines within the bank and advice from a number of leading social enterprises such as ‘Onbeperkt aan de Slag’ and Ctalents.

Alongside this, we will also create new jobs for people with an occupational disability. For example, some of our branches employ Warm Welcome staff to greet visitors at the door. And our Sign Language Coffee Bars are operated by colleagues who are deaf and hard of hearing, and who take orders in sign language.

Together for the best opportunities

We are strong advocates of equal opportunities for people with disabilities, including outside the bank. We have therefore joined a lobby group aimed at persuading the government to include provision for such groups in new legislation. We are also in regular dialogue with social partners such as trade unions, the VNO-NCW employers federation and the employee insurance agency UWV. With UWV and other players, we hold a monthly jobs market for people suffering from occupational disabilities.

Society gains when such individuals can engage in long-term regular employment, since they are then no longer dependent on benefits and welfare. Organisations also benefit greatly from their presence. Companies that employ people with occupational disabilities report higher levels of employee satisfaction, customer satisfaction and productivity. We share these experiences with our business clients so that a growing number of organisations will start to see people’s talents rather than their limitations.