Talent knows no limits

Different people, different needs

Everyone’s different, including people with disabilities. The same goes for how they do their job best. Say you’re in a wheelchair. Then you’ll benefit most from smart and handy tools. If you have autism, coaching might really help. And if you have an illness that slowly progresses or may never go away, it’s nice to be able to work different hours. These people often don’t get the chance to use their talent in a paid job. However different their challenges, that’s what they all come up against.

Stepping stone to a proper job

People with disabilities can be hugely important for organizations and really help move our society forward. But they need to get the right resources and support. And sometimes, as an employer, you need to make special arrangements for them. Only then do they get a fair shot too.

That’s why the government and various companies have made clear agreements on this: by 2025, we need 125,000 extra jobs for people with disabilities. At ABN AMRO, this means at least 225 jobs. Proper, serious work – with a normal salary. This way, we want to help this group of people become financially independent.

B-Able: the desk that does good things

ABN AMRO has set up a special program to help people with disabilities get suitable jobs: B-Able. As soon as they start working here, we support them through the B-Able Desk. The desk is in contact with all parts of the bank. It also gets advice from social organizations that really understand what it’s like to work with a disability. Good examples are Onbeperkt aan de Slag and Ctalents.

We also make sure new jobs keep opening up for people with disabilities. Think of Warm Welcome staff, who welcome visitors at some of our bank branches. Fancy a drink as a colleague or guest at our Sign Language Coffee Bars? Then you’ll be helped by deaf and hard-of-hearing colleagues. They take your order in sign language.

Working together for fair opportunities

ABN AMRO thinks it’s really important that people with disabilities get fair opportunities. With a job that matters within the bank, but also beyond. That’s why we’ve joined a group of organizations that feel the same way. Together, we’re urging the government to make new laws in this area that actually work well. Especially where they’re meant to: at work.

We’re also talking constantly with social partners: institutions that keep a close eye on the interests of employees and employers. Like trade unions for employees, and VNO-NCW for employers. And then there’s UWV. This organization makes sure employees are insured against all kinds of problems, like work disability. Together with UWV and others, we organize a monthly job fair, specifically for people with disabilities.

Sharing success

It’s wonderful that people with disabilities get financial support. But it’s even better when they don’t need to anymore, because they’ve found a steady job. That saves society a lot of money. But organizations that hire people with disabilities benefit too. Wherever these people find a job, there’s growth: employees and customers are happier, and people work harder with better results. We share these experiences with our business clients. This way, we hope they’ll also see what people cando, not what they find difficult.