DTEK Energy's experience in creating accessible conditions at enterprises and supporting defenders and veterans has been included in the Handbook on Businesses Implementing Inclusive Practices, prepared by the non-governmental organisation ‘Dostupno.UA’.
The guide brings together practical case studies from Ukrainian companies that are systematically developing barrier-free, inclusive corporate cultures and creating equal opportunities for employees. Its goal is to disseminate proven solutions and encourage businesses to implement inclusive approaches in their daily activities.
The publication, which was presented on 16 December, highlights DTEK Energy's comprehensive approach to creating an accessible working environment at industrial enterprises, as well as its programme to support military personnel and veterans returning to professional life after military service.
As noted by Natalia Abramova, advisor to DTEK Energy's CEO and lead of the Veterans project, sharing this experience is important for the development of Ukrainian society as a whole:
"It is important for DTEK Energy to share its own experience with Ukrainian businesses and professional communities, because creating and supporting inclusive conditions in everyday life, services and production is not an abstract declaration, but a real and necessary step for the development of society. This is especially important today, during a full-scale war, when thousands of military personnel and civilians in Ukraine are becoming disabled as a result of hostilities," noted Ms. Abramova.
According to her, more than 4,000 DTEK Energy employees have joined the defence of the country. Some of them were wounded, others were left disabled.
"It is essential for the company that all our colleagues, after demobilisation, have the opportunity to return to professional activity at their own discretion, regardless of their state of health or acquired disability. That is why DTEK Energy was one of the first in Ukraine to begin systematic work on improving accessibility at large industrial enterprises and creating a barrier-free working environment. We are convinced that this approach should become common practice for large businesses," said Ms Abramova.
This year, for the first time in Ukraine, the company adapted and equipped the above-ground area of one of its mines in Dnipro region to employ veterans with disabilities. Currently, an accessibility audit of the common workspace has already been conducted at 20 of the company's enterprises: above-ground surfaces of mines, TPPs, machine-building plants. The company is also actively working on testing a tool that is unique for Ukraine – a catalogue of jobs for the employment of veterans with disabilities, which will be used at its enterprises.
Since 2015, the NGO ‘Dostupno.UA’ has been working to develop accessibility in Ukraine, helping businesses and communities to implement inclusive solutions and promoting accessibility practices.
The inclusion of DTEK Energy's experience in the guide demonstrates the company's systematic approach to inclusion and its contribution to shaping a culture of accessibility in Ukrainian business, which is particularly important in the context of war and post-war reconstruction.