Case Study
Workplace design and employment protection allowance for a kitchen assistant

This is a retirement home.

The woman has spasticity and is disabled. She should only lift and carry loads manually to a very limited extent and not walk long distances. The GdB (degree of disability) is 100.

The employee has not completed any vocational training and is employed as an assistant in the kitchen at the nursing home.

The employee is employed in the kitchen area or in the ward kitchen to prepare meals and clean dishes and cutlery, among other things. On the ward, 19 people are cared for and looked after in alternating shifts. From the nursing home's point of view, the employee's performance is around 30 percent of that of other employees without severe disabilities.
The crockery and cutlery used to be stored in the kitchen on a tray under the sink unit and required frequent bending down and coordinated squatting and stooping for handling (six washing up cycles per shift). The kitchen was therefore redesigned to be suitable for disabled people (arrangement in the reach space, short distances, assistive products and machines / dishwasher) in order to avoid the long distances for the employee and the use of forced postures as well as the long handling of loads. In addition, table and transport carts that can be pushed on castors and are the same height as the work surfaces and transfer points in the dining area were used.

The work design was supported by the Integration and Inclusion Office. In addition, the Office for Integration and Inclusion granted the retirement home an employment protection subsidy to compensate for the extraordinary burden caused by the reduced work performance. Advice was provided by the Technical Advisory Service of the Integration or Inclusion Office.
also provides the addresses and telephone numbers of the Integration or Inclusion Offices.