Frederike Reußenzehn, Associate Director Diversity & Inclusion
Since May 2022, I have been the Inclusion Officer for ProSiebenSat.1, coordinating measures to improve the situation of people with disabilities in the Group together with the Disabled Persons Representative Council. I am the internal and external contact for all topics relating to inclusion and maintain a close exchange with our representative body for the severely disabled.
Self-determined participation and equal opportunities for all colleagues are particularly important to me. At ProSiebenSat.1, we are aware of our important task and are committed to a diverse environment and, in particular, to an inclusive corporate culture. We are certainly not perfect yet, but we work together every day to improve.
Premiere: P7S1 is first german media company to establish barrier-free TV advertising
Our representative for severely disabled employees
Oliver Stein, elected person of trust within the representation of severely disabled employees, together with his team Martin Martin and Christina Sasse, has been looking after the interests of people with disabilities and chronical illnesses, as well as their equals, since 2019.
"Our task is to integrate people with (severe) disabilities and people with equivalent status into the company, we represent their interests and help, we are there to advice and support them. At the same time, we are involved in many committees and are the point of contact for everyone in the company when it comes to (severe) disabilities and chronical illnesses.
In January 2022, we concluded a comprehensive inclusion agreement with the employer. This is the first time we have set out binding rules on many issues for people with disabilities.
Together with the inclusion officer as the employers representative, we ensure compliance with legal regulations and work to make P7S1 attractive for people with disabilities. It is important to us that we create an inclusive working environment for everyone."
Inclusive Initiatives
We cooperate with Arbeitsgemeinschaft Behinderung und Medien e.V. (abm), which is responsible for an extensive TV program broadcast nationwide for the circumstances, concerns and interests of people with disabilities. Our Group has supported the initiative since 2000 with the TV magazine CHALLENGE, which is broadcast every first Saturday of the month on both Kabel Eins and SAT.1 GOLD.
As part of the cooperation, it was also possible to integrate the media library of abm into the HbbTV offering of the SAT.1 GOLD and Kabel Eins stations. As a result, "CHALLENGE" can be the first fully inclusive series to be offered completely barrier-free, i.e. with subtitles, audio description, sign language interpreters and easy language.
On the occasion of the Special Olympics World Games Berlin 2023, the largest inclusive sporting event in the world, we were part of an alliance of German TV companies. More than 7,000 athletes from almost 200 nations competed in 26 sports at the World Games from 17 to 25 June.
"Completely normal - that should be the participation of people with intellectual and multiple disabilities in our society! The Special Olympics have and can make a big difference here. We are happy to support this important sign for inclusion with what we do best: attract attention and show our viewers great sporting performances. That is also our responsibility as a media company," says Henrik Pabst, Chief Content Officer of Seven.One Entertainment Group.
Cooperation with the myAbility talent program
As a media group with a wide reach, it is important for us to take responsibility and show attitude. With myAbility Social Enterprise GmbH, we have a strong cooperation partner at our side for the third year in a row. We are very pleased to be a partner of the talent program and to jointly host a career café this year. The Talent Program, a barrier-free career program for students and academics with disabilities and chronic illnesses, is the first of its kind in the German-speaking world and promotes talent through career coaching as well as networking and job shadowing opportunities. At P7S1, we not only want to expand our own talent pool, but also want to support these talents to position themselves confidently in the job market.
As a partner, we have so far not only been able to provide exciting insights and tips from ProSiebenSat.1s perspective, but also to raise awareness among our employee:s and move forward on the path to an inclusive corporate culture. Because we know: Diverse and inclusive teams are more successful!
