Diversity in Spain: DKV Seguros supports inclusive working practices

Integralia was established as a social initiative back in 2000 by Josep Santacreu, Chairman of the Board of DKV Seguros. In more than two decades, Integralia has become a self-financed and sustainable non-profit organisation.

The mission of the Integralia foundation is to facilitate the social and professional integration of people with disabilities and chronic illnesses in companies. It provides training for these people, thus improving their social situation and helping them to discover and hone their varied potentials.

“The team is doing an excellent work. Everybody is very professional. They create the future of people with disabilities and chronic illnesses. We are happy to share this example of diversity and integration with you, since we are really proud of it.”

Specifically, the Spanish DKV foundation Integralia operates employment centres and organises special training to empower people with impairments to pursue suitable professional activities in the labour market.

At the same time, Integralia places these people in jobs in around 50 companies – including DKV Seguros. It assists these employers in the recruiting process and coaches both employer and employee during the first three months of integrative cooperation. Once the employee and employer have determined that they are a good fit, nothing stands in the way of onboarding.

“ERGO Group‘s trust in diversity is a factor that allows hundreds of people with disabilities like us to access to a job opportunity. I have many teammates who have incredible stories of overcoming. As a trainer in Integralia, I have learned from them as much as them from me. This is the magic of diversity. It allows to have a very growing work environment, that does not discriminate anyone and that is capable of achieving the talent that exists in each person. No matter their gender, race, nationality or disability.”

“People with disabilities still have many difficulties accesing the labor market. In Spain our unemployment rate is double that of the people without disabilities. And this does not happen because we are worse workers than the rest. This happens because there is a lot of unbased mistrust about the profesional skills of people with disabilities yet. Being in a great company that relies on our abilities is a great pride for us.”

Integralia is active beyond Spain’s national borders as well. The foundation collaborates with Poland, Peru, Columbia, India and Chile. More than 570 employees – staff members with disabilities themselves – help companies to implement inclusion in their organisations.

“Our strategic goal of consistently anchoring diversity in everyday life is already being successfully implemented at ERGO’s companies outside Germany.
Our Spanish company DKV Seguros is a role model for inclusion thanks to its Integralia foundation. In the past 22 years, Integralia has provided job opportunities to more than 5,000 people with disabilities or chronic illnesses through its support and employment placement programmes. This has been a great success – for everyone involved.”

(Text: Ursula Lindenberg, Larissa Lehr)