ergo work presentation by louise moody at the design 4 health conference (15_07_15)
TRANSCRIPT
Design for Improved Workplace Inclusion: An exploratory study of stakeholder needs
Louise Moody & Janet SaundersCoventry School of Art & Design
The Ergo Work Project (2013-2015)
Collaboration between academic and industrial partners in 6 EU countries: Belgium, Italy, Poland, Slovenia, Spain, UK
Understanding barriers to inclusion of disabled people in the workplace
Development of new curriculum components tailored to equip students to design ergonomic workplaces for disabled people
Improve learning, teaching and knowledge transfer between partners regarding Ergonomic workplace design
Test the new curriculum through pilot projects in Slovenia and Poland, with students carrying out hands-on projects with industrial partners
The 10 Ergo Work Partners
UK – Coventry University
Slovenia – University of Maribor
Poland – University of Siedlce
Slovenia - Ozara d.o.o, (lead partner) a ‘service and disability company’, sheltered employment
Slovenia - Kovinarstvo, Drago Bucar, sheet metal product manufacture.
Poland - Luksja, clothing manufacture, employs over 70% disabled people, a regional leader in corporate social responsibility.
Poland - Centrum, a medical diagnostic and training company , employing disabled workers
Italy – TENDER, an organization dedicated to knowledge about Health and Social Care Services Provision
Spain - INFAD, European Scientific Organization to encourage research and promote knowledge triangle
Belgium – EASPD, European Association of Service Providers for Persons with Disabilities, promoting equal opportunities.
Variable EU Context
• The European Disability Strategy (2010-2020) strives for a unified approach to the inclusion of disabled people, and to significantly raise the proportion of disabled people working in the open labour market (EC, 2013). – EC Directive 2000/78/EC places a firm focus on employer responsibility to provide ‘reasonable
accommodation’ – 2020 target is 75% employment for all citizens
• Slow and variable impact across EU• Sheltered employment dominant form of employment in Slovenia and Poland; and
increasing in Belgium, Italy• Most European countries have a quota system in place (not effective or enforceable,
choose to pay the fine e.g. Poland)• Only widespread supported employment in the UK
Employment rate People with impairments Non-disabled
EU as a whole Under 50% 72%
e.g. UK (2012) 47.8% 75.9%
e.g. Poland (2011) 14.8% 50.7%
Stakeholder Survey
Aim: to explore perceptions of a range of stakeholders in terms of workplace inclusion and educational need across partner countries
• Anonymous online survey - Bristol Online Surveys• Survey developed and analysed in UK• Brief demographic section + 61 additional questions• General section for everyone• Additional questions for disabled participants• Additional questions for ‘employers/ management’• Multiple choice/ likert scale plus ‘open’ comments• Local piloting to ensure culturally appropriate
A Broad and Mixed Sample
• A ‘snapshot’ exploratory view - based on partner networks
• 520 online participants across 6 countries
• Small and variable sample
– Academia, and companies, employees, management
– People with and without disabilities - 24% reported an impairment
– Broad mix of economic sector, company size
– Gender and age – fairly balanced
Belgium
Italy
Poland
Slovenia
Spain
UK
0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100%
PoorlyNot wellAbout averageFairly wellVery well
UK 69% of participants felt their work-place was adapted ‘fairly well’ or ‘very well’ 53% for Poland 51% for Slovenia 39% for Belgium38% for Spain37% for Italy
How well does your workplace accommodate people with disabilities? (All respondents)
“Disabled people are not well-provided for in terms of workplace design” (disabled respondents)
• Highest proportion of responses agreed with the statement.
• UK respondents were the least negative with 36% in agreement
Country Agree or Agree strongly
Belgium 60%
Italy 67%
Poland 39%
Slovenia 55%
Spain 50%
UK 36%
I hav
e a
disa
bilit
y
I do
not h
ave
a di
sabi
lity
I hav
e a
disa
bilit
y
I do
not h
ave
a di
sabi
lity
I feel included by my workmates and part of a team at this work-place
I am generally happy at this workplace
0%
20%
40%
60%
80%
100%
• A lower level of satisfaction among disabled respondents.
• They felt less included or part of a team, and were less happy in the workplace.
Workplace Inclusion & Happiness
Physical ch
ange to build
ing
Individual work area
Special fu
rnitu
re
Environment
Special IT
equipment
Special so
ftware
Training to im
prove attitudes
Job tasks c
hanged
The job ro
le adapted
Pace of w
ork adapted
Hours adapted
0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
70%
80%
90%
100%
BelgiumItalyPolandSloveniaSpainUK
What workplace adaptations are made? (all respondents)
• Variable pattern in the adaptations recognised• Physical adaptations were most common• Poland & Slovenia may make more changes in role or work
pacing • Italian participants were the least likely to mention adaptations
to jobs tasks & roles.• Low knowledge of hearing or visual impairment, & adaptations
for mental health needs & intellectual disabilities.
What barriers exist when asking for adaptations?
• Fear about job security, being stigmatised and isolated• The design of the workplace was felt to be a barrier to employment
opportunities• Lack of knowledge
“It is very difficult to find companies able to offer ergonomic furniture for people with disabilities”,
(manager, Italy)
“Employers think very narrowly about adapting
workplaces”(social worker, Slovenia)
“There is little known about adjustments for hearing impairments,
but the biggest problems are employers' fear and their lack of
information” (employee, Slovenia)
“ I was waiting 14 years to inform my company that I
am a disabled person because I was afraid to be
sacked”(teacher, Spain)
We have the necessary knowledge and resources to adapt the workplace (employers)
Belgium Italy Poland Slovenia Spain UK0%
20%
40%
60%
80%
100%
NoYes
Would you be interested in training for your organisation? (employers)
Belgium Italy Poland Slovenia Spain UK0%
10%20%30%40%50%60%70%80%90%
100%
DisagreeAgree
Design Awareness • % have not heard of, or do not understand
Ergonomic Design Universal Design Inclusive Design Accessible Design
Belgium 0.285714285714286
0.523809523809524
0.476190476190476
0.238095238095238
Italy 0.213333333333333
0.386666666666667
0.466666666666667
0.4
Poland 0.430232558139535
0.430232558139535
0.651162790697675
0.604651162790698
Slovenia 0.26530612244898 0.421768707482993
0.496598639455782
0.374149659863946
Spain 0.11 0.2 0.25 0.16
UK 0.0972222222222222
0.388888888888889
0.388888888888889
0.263888888888889
5%
15%
25%
35%
45%
55%
65%
75%
85%
95%
Knowledge Gaps & Enhanced Curriculum Content
Curriculum Contents• Work Study & Ergonomics:
understanding the workplace and job characteristics
• Characteristics of disability in the work environment: understanding individual employees and their needs
• Ergonomics in business: understanding the job and business
• Inclusive design• Application of this knowledge
through a pilot project
• Slovenia – Maribor: Degrees in Mechanical Engineering, Logistics, Business • Poland – Siedlce: Degrees in Humanities
Additional topics to increase focus
Inclusive design
Occupational health
Organisational behaviour
Assistive technology
Accessible environments
Traditional ergonomics
Mental health needs
Workplace interventions
Empathic methodsDesign
Occupational therapy
Job design
Knowledge Sector
Pilot Projects: Curriculum Implementation
• 4 Pilot projects (3 months)– 2 Slovenian industry partners; 2 Polish industry
partners
• Projects run in parallel with the curriculum teaching
• Introductory workshops (1 month)
• 96 hours of workshops per project
• Multidisciplinary teams including researchers, lecturers, students, disabled and non-disabled employees of participating companies
• In depth evaluation of the impact on the companies and employees
Ongoing Projects in Slovenia & Poland
• Disability company (SL) - production of 6m long wooden pallet
• Disability company (SL) - assembly line for beauty products
• Sheltered clothing production workshop employing 236 people, over 70% with impairments (PL). CNC multi ply spreading and cutting machine
• Medical and Diagnostic Centre• Adapting the call centre workstation -providing
information and patient appointments
Conclusions
• There is still some way to go in providing adapted workplaces (even in the UK)– Disabled employees are less happy at work – Most adaptations made are physical– Many barriers still exist to asking for improvements e.g. fears about job
insecurity and being stigmatized – everywhere
• Need for improved design as well as education and training– Polish employers in particular were less confident than others about workplace
adaptation, finding information and access to experts.– Less awareness and knowledge of sensory impairments, mental health needs or
intellectual impairments – Low general awareness of inclusive design and related terms– There was interest in training around creating better workplaces– A wide range of design challenges
ErgoWork Partner Countries Context
% disabled employed people in sheltered employment (2008)
Quota system Supported employment
Belgium >50% & increasing Public sector only and not met
Some regional schemes in operation
Italy >50% & increasing National quota system No national schemes but many local initiatives
Spain >50% & decreasing(2013 40%) plus 15% quota
Only 14% of larger businesses meet requirements
Mainly private service providers, some national finance but not stable
Poland >70% & decreasing Many companies pay a fine instead
National schemes providing limited services
Slovenia >70% Quota system often fulfilled by sheltered work contracts
No scheme in operation
UK Less and decreasing rapidly since 2008
No quota system Widespread services delivered by variety of govt. Schemes and other organisations
Belgium Italy Poland Slovenia Spain UK0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
70%
80%
90%
100%
71%
7%
38%
25%
8%
25%29%
88%
62%68%
90%
68%
YesNoPrefer not to sayNo Answer
Physical 46
Visual 17
Hearing 14
Mental Health 12
Intellectual 6
Other 11
• Varied but with good representation of disabled people
Do you have a disability?
Ergo Work Project Strategy
One: Stakeholder survey – explore perceptions and needs of a range of stakeholders in terms of workplace inclusion and ergonomics education
Two: Development of new curriculum components tailored to equip students to design ergonomic workplaces for disabled people
Three: Test the new curriculum through pilot projects in Slovenia and Poland, with students carrying out hands-on projects with industrial partners