GAIN Career Club News: Zurich Launches Office Sensory Guide for Employees

ZURICH’S NEW SENSORY GUIDE EMPOWERS EMPLOYEES TO FIND THE PERFECT OFFICE SPACE FOR THEIR INDIVIDUAL NEEDS

The new guide maps every Zurich site for temperature, noise, smells and all other factors that may impact neurodiverse employees or others experiencing challenging life stages, such as the menopause.

Zurich UK has launched its first UK Workplace Sensory Guide which has been developed to help everyone with their personal needs. The guide maps out a range of sensory factors from temperature, light, noise and heightened smells from kitchen areas.

The insurer has been exploring ways to enhance employees and visitors’ working experience when on site in any of its UK locations. This follows feedback from employees who were struggling to feel comfortable in certain parts of the buildings.  This could range from those experiencing symptoms of the menopause, neurodiverse employees, those that are pregnant, or managing depression or anxiety. Following office redesigns and a move to hybrid-working, the insurer has developed these self-help guides to empower people to make decisions that support their needs.

Zurich employees were consulted in order to understand the sensory elements for each site. This, coupled with feedback from the Accessibility Inclusion Network group within Zurich enabled the business to create the guides.

Louise Sheppard, UK Head of Workplace & Security at Zurich UK, said: “Zurich UK aims to be an inclusive employer and a big part of this mission is to ensure our offices are accessible to all, supporting both sensory and personal needs. This initiative aims to enable anyone using our office space to make informed choices that suit their individual needs and make their experience in our UK offices a positive one.”

Sally Blake, UK Diversity and Inclusion Manager at Zurich UK, said: “Our new guide signifies Zurich UK’s long-term commitment to being a truly inclusive employer. This is an important step in the right direction to letting employees and customers know that we care about their needs, and that we will work to support them when working on-site. This guide will empower people to make choices and bring more comfort to those with sensory needs. This may be related to neurodiversity right through to pregnancy, menopause, and to those suffering from depression. There are so many reasons sensory needs must be met.”

Zurich is a founder member of GAIN and is committed to being an inclusive employer. The insurer aims to make all work environments a comfortable and safe space for all employees and as a result has seen a 74% increase in employees declaring themselves neurodiverse recent years. In addition, the insurer:

• Partners with Ambitious about Autism

• Works with Auticon, a groundbreaking IT/Data consultancy whose consultants have a diagnosis of autism, to recruit a diverse workforce

• Has trained more than 200 colleagues in neurodiversity training, including ‘Understanding autism’, supporting ‘autistic talent’ and parents/carers