Case Study
"One day that changed everything" - Interview by the Federal Employment Agency's Faktor A magazine

An interview by the Federal Employment Agency's Faktor A magazine on participation in working life after illness during vocational training with Dariean Bahr and his employing company and the General Manager of DACHSER SE.

The employee - Dariean Bahr

Fate is a rotten traitor - that could be the signature of Dariean Bahr's life. After a stroke of fate, the young family man finds himself in a wheelchair, his dream job as a warehouse specialist shattered. But Bahr simply carries on. After a rehabilitation program, he is back in the thick of life. At his side: his employer, the logistics company DACHSER SE in Neumünster. With the help of the employment agency and many other supporters, his branch manager, Jan-Ferdinand Lühmann, is pulling out all the stops to keep him.

Factor A:

What made you suddenly find yourself in a wheelchair?

Dariean Bahr:

I got ready like I do every morning. I had to pick something up at the hospital and drove there on my moped. Everything was still fine then. It was only after that that the whole thing took its course... I went back to my scooter and noticed a slight tingling in my legs. When I sat down on the scooter, I felt a sharp pain in my back. It disappeared quite quickly and I set off again. However, the tingling in my legs got stronger and stronger, so I had to stop my scooter next to a bench because I couldn't go any further. I managed to park it on the stand and sit down on the bench. The feeling in my legs then disappeared. It turned out afterwards that it was a spinal cord infarction.

Factor A:

Despite everything, you passed your practical final exam on 25.01.2023. Did this take place under special conditions? How did you manage that?

Dariean Bahr:

Of course it took place under special circumstances, as I could only do a limited amount of work. The Chamber of Industry and Commerce really took my circumstances into account.

Factor A:

You switched from the warehouse to the office. Who came up with the idea?

Dariean Bahr:

While I was still in rehab, Mr. Lühmann and I thought about how I could return to the job I had learned. We went through all the options.
The first test consisted of talking to various manufacturers of industrial trucks to find a way to return to the warehouse with a converted truck. Unfortunately, this is not possible for technical reasons and due to occupational safety.
He then offered me an internal transfer to the office. We then drew up a plan with the relevant departments at the employment agency and integration service (IfD) on how I could be retrained as a commercial employee.

Factor A:

How did you find your way into your new job? What do you particularly enjoy?

Dariean Bahr:

The changeover was certainly not easy. But I have wonderful colleagues who have supported me and continue to do so, as have my superiors. I particularly enjoy the humorous cooperation, also with our drivers.

Factor A:

How did your employer and the employment agency support you in getting a workplace with barrier-free conditions?

Dariean Bahr:

My employer brought all the departments together that were necessary to realize a conversion of the office complex. He also obtained quotes and submitted them to the employment agency. They provided the necessary funding for the office conversion. It also helped me to be independent of public transport by sponsoring a driver's license and handicapped accessible car. For my part, all I had to do was fill out the necessary applications and submit the relevant offers, which the IfD also helped me with.

Factor A:

What challenges do you still struggle with in your day-to-day work? Do you need a support person or work assistance or do you manage everything on your own?

Dariean Bahr:

Basically, I manage everything - and I'm proud of that - on my own. If I'm ever at a loss, I have great colleagues who help me. I am not treated like a raw egg, but like a "normal" colleague.

Factor A:

What advice do you have for other people with disabilities regarding participation in working life?

Dariean Bahr:

Never give up! There are always ways and means to achieve your goals, even if it seems hopeless.

Factor A:

And what else needs to be done to improve professional inclusion in the long term?

Dariean Bahr:

Many more companies need to follow suit, create structural accessibility and simply give people with disabilities a chance.

The employer - Dachser

Factor A:

Why was it so important to you to keep Mr. Bahr? Why did you want to create a disabled-accessible workplace?

Jan-Ferdinand Lühmann:

Mr. Bahr completed his vocational training as a warehouse specialist with us. He was also our first vocational training trainee at the Neumünster site. During his vocational training, he showed great commitment and a very good work performance. Mr. Bahr's original plan was to pursue a career in our transshipment warehouse after his vocational training. When he suffered a stroke of health shortly before the end of his training, it was clear to us that we still wanted to give him a future career with us. Due to our corporate values, our social responsibility and our philosophy of inclusion, this path was a matter of course for us

Factor A:

Did your company already have previous experience with people with disabilities?

Jan-Ferdinand Lühmann:

Yes, we did - also thanks to our representative for severely disabled employees and our inclusion officer. However, this case was new in this respect and a challenge because we had not previously employed a wheelchair user in the company.

Factor A:

How have you experienced Mr Bahr in your company since the changeover?

Jan-Ferdinand Lühmann:

He has settled into his new role in the office very well. He is an integral and valued part of our team. He is very conscientious about any necessary training measures.

Factor A:

How have your colleagues reacted? What has changed?

Jan-Ferdinand Lühmann:

Everyone was deeply affected. Some even visited him in hospital and many kept in touch with him during this difficult time. Since his return to his new workplace in the office, he has become an equal, positive and integral part of our team. In addition, Mr. Bahr makes it easy for everyone with his manner, as he does not demand special treatment, has a good sense of humor and does not put every word on the gold scale. After all, there are one or two little blunders in everyday wording. Everyone just had to get used to all the automated doors (laughs).

Factor A:

What's going well, what's not going so well? What could still be improved?

Jan-Ferdinand Lühmann:

Our new automated doors have a certain life of their own now and again and don't always work the way we want them to (laughs).

Factor A:

What special skills has he gained (if any)?

Jan-Ferdinand Lühmann:

Numerous, as he has switched from an industrial to a commercial workplace. What is particularly valuable, however, is that he can bring his experience and perspective from the warehouse to the office. He is therefore a good link between our employees in the transshipment warehouse and his long-distance transport team in the office.

Faktor A:

What were the costs associated with the integration measures?

Jan-Ferdinand Lühmann:

A low six-figure sum.

Faktor A:

That sounds like a lot! To what extent did you receive advice and financial help here?

Jan-Ferdinand Lühmann:

We received very good support from the Neumünster Employment Agency, the local rehabilitation/severely disabled advice service and the technical advice service of the Kiel Agency. Marion Winger and Frederic Möß were very committed. They supported us throughout the entire process - and also took us by the hand where necessary. Whether it was filling out the necessary forms and applications or occasionally speeding up processes. Of course, they also visited us on site at the logistics center and spoke to everyone involved. This enabled them to analyze and assess the situation and the necessary steps for a disabled-friendly, barrier-free workplace. We then took care of acquiring offers for the conversions and their implementation (e.g. Disabled WC, electronic door opener, External wheelchair lift).

Factor A:

Many employers are certainly reluctant to take this step, the effort, the costs, etc. Why should more companies dare to do so? Why should more companies dare to give people with disabilities a chance?

Jan-Ferdinand Lühmann:

Of course, it is always a case-by-case consideration that depends on the qualifications and attitude of the applicant or employee concerned. We can say that Mr. Bahr is a valued colleague who we wanted to keep in the company due to his commitment, performance and loyalty.

Factor A:

What advantages and potential do you see?

Jan-Ferdinand Lühmann:

We are convinced that giving people with disabilities a chance is a sensible measure for the company. Especially as the majority of the costs are covered by the employment agency. With such a large investment volume, this is a significant and important factor for the company concerned.

Factor A:

What difficulties and hurdles did you face? What was the biggest one?

Jan-Ferdinand Lühmann:

Overall, the agencies and specialist services involved provided us with good and fast support. We only had to be patient when dealing with some of the trades and craftsmen who carried out the conversion work.

Factor A:

How long did it all take?

Jan-Ferdinand Lühmann:

It took us seven months from the joint kick-off meeting to Mr. Bahr starting work. But that kept us within the schedule we had set ourselves.

Factor A:

What should employers bear in mind?

Jan-Ferdinand Lühmann:

It is important to get to know all the people involved in the company in person and work out a binding timetable with a clear target date for starting work. From then on, you have to keep at it, take care of things and coordinate regularly with the employment agency. It is important to appoint someone in the company to coordinate the transition. Likewise, someone who takes care of all the bureaucratic matters.

Factor A:

Thank you all very much for your openness!

ICF Items

Reference Number:

PB/111263


Last Update: 17 Jun 2024