Foundever, a global leader in the customer experience (CX) industry, launched its new employee resource group (ERG), “Disability at Foundever” in the Philippines. This group’s mission is to provide support, enhance the workplace experience and boost the professional and personal development of employees with disabilities (PWDs). Disability at Foundever is the first ERG for PWDs in Foundever worldwide.
With this new ERG, Foundever in the Philippines is taking a major stride in promoting diversity and inclusion in its workplaces. Almost 4,000 associates joined the pioneering virtual launch in February.
Advocate Jen Mendoza from the Philippine Business Coalition for Women Empowerment shared her insights in a talk during the launch. She emphasized that the experience of disability has two parts: the impairment (physical, mental or both) and the cultural, social and structural barriers in the environment.
The combination of these two creates a disabling experience for PWDs and prevents them from achieving their potential.
That said, Mendoza advised that both impairments and barriers need to be addressed to support PWDs and make them productive and happy members of society.
She added that PWDs need to be involved in the planning and decision-making process behind policies, programs and practices that affect their lives. This is true whether in the country’s laws or policies governing health, education, transportation, housing and other basic services.
Disability at Foundever resource group is one example of how an employer can address the impairments and barriers that affect its PWD workers. Through this ERG, the PWD associates of Foundever in the Philippines can play an active part in shaping their workplace into an environment where they can thrive as individuals and professionals while maximizing their contribution to business progress and growth.
The ERG launching also served as the kickoff for the first corporate social responsibility (CSR) activity of Disability at Foundever. Shortly following the launch, the ERG core group and volunteers shared their time with students and faculty of the Philippine National School for the Blind (PNSB) last February 17.
Disability at Foundever chairperson and VP for APAC Operations Eden Gutierrez led the CSR activity, along with co-leaders Jen Joloc, Jex San Jose and Hiroki Revereza, with the support of 98 volunteer associates.
Before the event, the Disability at Foundever CSR volunteers received training on communicating with and guiding visually impaired people.
At the event, the ERG volunteers shared their time, stories and goodwill with 100 PNSB beneficiaries, who were composed of visually impaired students, teachers and staff. There was also a showcase of talents, where PNSB students performed songs and spoken-word poetry.