TietoEVRY Oyj : Hiring candidates with aspergers syndrome - Norwegian Welfare Services are taking notes

Published: 25 January 2021

Several of our employees at TietoEVRY Stavanger have Aspergers syndrome. This has resulted in positive experiences, leading to a dialogue with the Norwegian Welfare Services (NAV) about how other businesses can achieve the same result

From left: Trine Helene Riise, Henning Starholm Steen and Kristoffer Høie Photo: Digi.no

In 2013 we hired our first candidate with Aspergers. Today however, the number has increased to seven at our Stavanger office with two more on the way. With a little adjustment and follow-up, the new colleagues have turned into a valuable resource for the company, head of inclusion, Henning Starholm Steen explains:

- These are people with outstanding work ethics, dedication and an unmatched sense for detail. They often excel in recognizing systems and patterns. And they do their best every day and every hour. I don't see a difference between the negative sides of Aspergers and say, having a little backpain sometimes, which also requires a little bit of adjustment and consideration. Difference is, backpain is usually not something you can turn into a resource. Aspergers definitely is!

As head of inclusion, Henning works as a sort of mentor for the employees, someone to talk to about concerns and adjustments to make the work day function smoothly. His experience with the project have been so good that he now wishes to expand the project to other offices at TietoEVRY. At first, the goal is to include 2-3 other offices in Norway.

Collabortation with Norwegian welfare services

These positive experiences have been a source of inspiration. Together with Norwegian welfare services (NAV) in Rogaland, we're now developing informational material about aspergers syndrome in work to make employers aware on how to include this group.

Numbers from NAV show that only 20-25 percent of citizens with Aspergers are working full time jobs. Kristoffer, the first employee in TietoEVRY with Aspergers still works at the company. According to him, many players share the responsibility for inclusion.

- I think that both employer, employee and the authorities need to put their heads together for the better of everyone. My take on this is that if you as a business leader have the opportunity to help out just a little, then do it!

Head of TietoEVRY in Norway, Christian Pedersen agrees and urges Norwegian businesses to step up to the challenge:

- No company can do it all, but all companies can do a little. We urge everyone to work harder in creating an inclusive environment where they work.

Creating a culture for inclusion

In TietoEVRY, we constantly work to create solutions fit for all people, benefiting society at large. This is precisely why it's important to recruit broadly and have our employees reflect the rest of society.

- You can't mandate inclusion. You have to work towards it by creating a culture for inclusion. You need a set of beliefs that employees support and management need to think in terms of inclusion in their everyday decision making, Christian Pedersen says.

Kristoffer explains:

- I think we need to take a closer look at all employees and understand how they're all different, with different needs. In my case, I thrive in a predictable environment. With that in mind, it's great having a mentor facilitate and make a plan with me to reach my targets.