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Shift change in Gera: Focus on inclusion of people with disabilities!
Gera took part in the “Shift Change” action day to promote inclusion and accessibility in the workplace and reduce fear of contact.
Shift change in Gera: Focus on inclusion of people with disabilities!
On September 25, 2025, the nationwide “shift change” action day took place in Gera, during which employees in the region swapped their jobs for a day. The day of action, which was launched by the Federal Association of Workshops for Disabled People, aims to reduce fear of contact and promote the inclusion of people with disabilities in working life. Over 4,800 participants, including 2,700 employees from workshops and 2,100 exchange partners, took part on this day to gain insights into the respective working worlds and gain new perspectives. Gera.de reports that this day was also celebrated in Gera with various activities.
A special highlight was the change of job between an employee of the Gera Zoo and Kathleen Lässig, who normally works in vegetable processing at the Aga organic farm. At the zoo, Kathleen helped build a new fence for the Owambo goats, while she was looked after by René Meyer from Lebenshilfe and Sven Zimmermann, a craftsman at the zoo. Kurt Dannenberg, the mayor of Gera, welcomed the initiative and underlined the social importance of inclusion.
Additional insights and achievements
This year, numerous employees across Germany experienced how valuable the exchange between people with and without disabilities can be. For example, 38-year-old Mesut Öztas swapped his job in a carpentry shop with an administrative job in the Mainz-Bingen district. He hopes to find a place in the general job market through such initiatives and dreams of having his own life with an apartment and a car. Patricia Retzlaff, who swapped her office work for manual work in the carpentry shop, also benefited from this day. According to Tagesschau, the action day is intended to give employers a realistic idea of the abilities and motivation of people with disabilities.
At other locations, such as the German Pension Insurance Association, managers experience an extremely instructive program. 27 managers sat in on workshops for people with disabilities to learn about their potential and challenges. Here, around 20 workshop employees were able to sit in on various pension insurance teams and get to know the company's diverse areas - from pensions to rehabilitation to diversity management. The aim of these actions is to reduce prejudices and broaden the horizon for inclusive workplaces. According to Deutsche Rentenversicherung, the day of action already had over 4,200 participants last year, which clearly shows that interest in inclusive work opportunities is growing.
At the end of the day, one thing remains clear: the “shift change” not only brings people closer together, but also shows how important it is to understand the abilities of all members of our society. Such initiatives are a step in the right direction to create an inclusive working world in which every person can develop their potential.