I Don’t Give Up Café and Restaurant (Nem Adom Café), a best practice about inclusion in hospitality from Hungary

The I don’t give up Café and Restaurant (Nem Adom Fel in Hungarian) is the result of a partnership between the Nem Adom Fel Foundation and Nem Adjuk Fel Social Cooperative. The I don’t give up Café and Restaurant is located in the historic Józsefváros district in the south-eastern part of Budapest city centre which contributes to its popularity.

Context

The I don’t give up Café and Restaurant opened its doors in 2016 with the purpose of providing equal employment opportunities to people with disabilities to help them integrate into society. The café also provides accessible services to different types of disabilities. Out of its 40 employees, the I don’t give up Café and Restaurant employs 36 workers with disabilities, which include visual and hearing impairment, people with reduced mobility, as well as neurodiverse and autistic individuals.

Implementation

The Nem Adom Fel Foundation and Nem Adjuk Fel Social Cooperative was worked in collaboration to open this establishment. The Social Cooperative agreed to offer catering services, and the Foundation to provide the property, professional support and community programs. The recruitment process began shortly after and has been ongoing since then.

The applicants’ qualifications and disabilities are assessed by the team to allocate them to a suitable area of employment. For example, bartenders need formal qualifications while catering and kitchen roles are available for unskilled labour. Once hired, workers then secure accredited employment through the Foundation for insurance and security purposes. Employees are then trained on a group and personal level. Group trainings take place every month while personalised development sessions are designed for everyone based on needs and disabilities.

Enabling Factors

The design of the I don’t give up Café and Restaurant optimises physical accessibility for disabled employees and guests alike. For example, there is a separate entrance for disabled individuals. Additionally, the mobility of the furniture, the spacious interior and adapted toilet facilities renders the entire space suitable for diverse guests’ needs. Another enabling factor includes visual support tools such as color-coded system and a work handbook where pictured and diagrams help employees perform tasks effectively. The website offers ICT features for visually impaired guests to make online information accessible to users. Lastly, the Foundation’s established reputation plays a critical role in securing opportunities such as providing catering services to private clients. Additionally, the Foundation has obtained funding through the European Union’s Erasmus+ program to develop workshops aimed at supporting individuals with disabilities under the Young People with Disabilities in the Hospitality Industry project based on the Café’s performance. Furthermore, the Foundation has delivered presentations at international events, including the UN World Tourism Day, to raise awareness about the needs of people with disabilities in the tourism sector.

Barriers

Workers with disabilities react differently in certain situations which need to be taken into consideration during their employment. For example, the limitations that certain disabilities imply cause extra stress on these workers. Extra training must be provided to prepare employees with the right tools for these circumstances.

Impact on the Organisation

The Foundation has developed training material based on the experiences, lessons and challenges that the I don’t give up Café and Restaurant has brought. For instance, the Conflict Management Exercises seeks to reduce turnover by equipping employees with the necessary skills to manage stress and other workplace challenges. The Communications training is aimed into improving performance by ensuring the information is accessible and easy to understand for all staff thereby, ensuring smooth operations.

 

Quotes

‘In work organisation, attention must be paid to the different abilities and limitations of employees with disabilities.’

 

Lessons Learned

The I don’t give up Café and Restaurant showcases that employees with disabilities can provide the same high-quality service as any other employee, promoting fairness in the workplace. By promoting understanding and acceptance, this best practice showcases how inclusive and diverse employment can be integrated into business operations. In addition, this best practice highlights the effectiveness of personalised development programs that address specific needs of disabled employees to equip them to overcome workplace challenges.

Future Plans

The organisation has established professional partnerships with Starbucks and Budapest Party Service for the integration and support of people with disabilities in the open labour market.

Links with UN Sustainable Development Goals

Read the full EDI report here.