Attractive workplace for all - Integration into the labour market of people at risk of exclusion
Certain categories of workers are not merely under-represented in the labour market. Those who are long-term unemployed, early school leavers and people with disabilites all face particular difficulties in finding and securing steady employment. In order to secure higher employment rates but also to forestall the risk of social exclusion that unemployment may bring, European social and employment policy underlines the importance of improving the labour market possibilities of these groups.
Under Orientation 3: Integration into the labour market of people at risk of exclusion such as those who are long-term unemployed, early school leavers and people with disabilities), examples of company initiatives include innovative partnerships between companies and public employment bodies to secure a return to employment of those who are long-term unemployed. Workplace innovations to meet the requirements of workers with special needs (mobility / workplace design, schedule) are also featured.
Key findings of the research are the following:
- The main reason given for company policies for early school leavers, long-term unemployed and disabled people is corporate social responsibility.
- Key approaches are educational and training programmes aimed at particular groups of disadvantaged young people, entry qualification programmes and opportunities to obtain work experience.
- Intensive coaching, mentoring and counselling during the entire programme are preconditions for successful company policies.
- Most company examples include programmes
with a long-term human resource perspective and corporate culture
supports sustainability of such
policies.
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