Gütersloh, 05/12/2025

"Zeynep's example is an encouraging sign"

A new video from the Group's representative body for employees with disabilities shows how inclusion in the workplace works.

In a new video,  Bertelsmann's Group Representative Body for Employees with Disabilities shows how inclusion can succeed in the workplace. Zeynep Colak works in facility management at Riverty in Verl. Thanks to the support of the responsible integration office and the will of her company to create a barrier-free working environment, she can perform her tasks without any problems despite her physical limitations.

Zeynep Colak, now 58, contracted polio as a small child. She came to Germany at the age of eight, was often hospitalized - and had to learn German in the first place. To this day, her legs are still affected by the disease, which means she cannot walk long distances. But she never gave up. She has now been working at Bertelsmann for more than 30 years, is now in contract management and takes care of maintenance contracts with service providers. She is also a representative for severely disabled employees and a member of the works council at Riverty Verl/Dortmund. She enjoys her job and is a little proud of herself for having made it this far, she says.

Promoting equal opportunities in the workplace

"We are really happy to have her on our team," says Teresa Schlichting, Chief People & Culture Manager at Riverty. "This is a great example of good and successful cooperation between our representative body for severely disabled employees, the inclusion officers and the employee concerned, Zeynep. And we have also been able to realize with state funding that she can do her job with us completely independently." The accessibility of the company building is an important issue: in recent years, numerous structural adaptations have been made to enable everyone to move around the company without any problems - including those who need aids like Zeynep Colak.

"Such initiatives are crucial to promoting equal opportunities in the workplace and showing that diversity in the workplace is not only possible, but also enriching," explains Gaby McNab, Group Representative for Employees with Disabilities at . Inclusion is a common goal that can be achieved through cooperation and understanding. "Zeynep's example is an encouraging sign that everyone can have a place in the world of work," says Gaby McNab.