Alstom launches campaign for diversity and inclusion
2 min read
Alstom, as part of European Disability Employment Week, has launched a worldwide internal campaign highlighting the importance of diversity and inclusion. WADA, or “We Are Differently Abled” week, aims to share and propagate best practices and consists in local events at several of its sites around the world.
In the UK, Alstom has announced that it is signing up to the Disability Rights UK pledge on employing disabled trainees and has committed to working with suppliers to increase awareness of disability issues. Alstom UK is also establishing a new inclusive group to ensure the voices of disabled employees are heard within the organisation.
“We are working actively on our sites worldwide to share our best practices and avenues for improvement to help foster a truly inclusive place to work for everyone. Working with people with different physical, cognitive or socio-emotional abilities is a source of richness – indeed, an advantage – and we are proud to include them in our talent pool,” explains Marcella Martinetti, Alstom Global Talent Director.
Diversity and inclusion are of utmost importance for Alstom and form one of the pillars of the company’s strategy to encourage equal opportunity. Alstom strives to make employees with different abilities feel welcome, valued, engaged and able to work across all functions and locations.
As a global company, Alstom has forged ties with local federations and associations around the world. Further examples include a partnership in Italy and with the Public Health Authority of Bologna aiding the integration of young trainees with Asperger Syndrome, or partnership with Fundacion Adecco in Spain to help the children of Alstom employees with different abilities become autonomous at an early age.
Meanwhile, the number of working hours, as well as equipment and services, acquired by Alstom from sheltered businesses continues to grow. At the company’s site in Reichshoffen, France, for instance, employees from a local sheltered business produce equipment for the site pre-fitting shop floor.
