On 23rd July 2024, the Active Inclusion team ran an ‘unconference’ called ‘What’s a Happy Workplace?’ hosted in person at Clifford Chance, London.
The aim of our ‘Unconference’ was to create a safe environment, for people with disabilities, to come together and share honestly what would make a happy workplace for them. We ran it as an inclusive ‘Unconference’ to allow people to bring their “whole messy selves” to the event in a relaxed environment.
More than 50 people attended, including those with lived experience of barriers to employment, and professionals from organisations including the Greater London Authority, councils, businesses, charities, and academics.
Keynote
In this section of the day Karen Blake, Co-CEO of Tech Talent Charter, and Kim Hoque, Professor of Human Resources Management, King’s College London did a joint presentation.
They presented Evidence that Disability Confident isn’t having an impact on our numbers in employment. And discussed the Disability Charter and it’s importance.
The Impact of the Talk
We shared insights on socials about why the Disability Confident badge doesn’t always guarantee an inclusive workplace. We are collaborating with local MPs to advocate for change.
Workshop: Open Books
In this workshop we explored the idea that we are all a living, breathing, library of human stories. Jane Hatton, CEO of Evenbreak took on the role of librarian, inviting people to be vulnerable and share their stories of their Ways of Working.
People found this workshop gave them a feeling of Openness, Connection, Support and Shared Understanding.
From the feedback survey of the day
Workshop: I used to be
This workshop encouraged the idea that we are all made up of skills and emotions from who we used to be. Whether that was before aquiring a disability, or we began caring for someone, or simply our first jobs!
Workshop: Poetry
Our poet Raisa Hassan guided us through two sessions, where jointly we created two poems. The poems captured our feelings about what we wish employers knew, and our disabled worklife.
Listen to the poems below. Read by Raisa.
Participants described the day as being Kind, Inclusive, Choice, Freedom, Challenging, Affirming, Diverse, Safe space and Honest.
From the feedback survey of the day
Download our Sketchbook
Find out more about the day in our PDF Sketchbook.
What's a 'Happy' Workplace? 
You must be logged in to post a comment.