Imagine, you’re a wheelchair user, and have to commute with public transport, and the lift to help you get in the bus is out of order. Is the train an option? No, it has to be booked in advance. So the only thing to do is wait for the next bus. To cut a long story short: you arrive at work one and a half hours late. This is what Jordy de Regt’s working day can look like, and the very reason that working from home is a blessing for him.

He’s part of VodafoneZiggo’s Connectivity Crew in Leeuwarden, where he helps customers who are having problems with their internet connections. Jordy sometimes found applying for a job a complicated task. "Employees are sometimes shocked when they see that I’m a wheelchair user. They often think I'm problematic, and tend to look more at the risks," he says. However, when he applied for his current job, things were very different. "There weren’t any negative reactions to my disability. They looked at what I was good at, and wanted to share their thoughts with me. That’s something I really appreciate."

Everything open to discussion
 "VodafoneZiggo supported me right from the start," says Jordy. In the first few months, for example, he had talks with someone from Diversity, Equity & Inclusion. That’s the department that works on ensuring the people employed at the company reflect the diversity in society in general. This includes making sure that VodafoneZiggo is a pleasant workplace for the LGBTIQ+ community and those who find it difficult to get a job, like Jordy. "I was asked about my problems, and my answers were listened to with particular attention. I was able to discuss everything; from practical matters, to personal questions about how I felt and what I needed."

Time and energy
Working from home was also fully open to discussion. COVID-19 had suddenly made it the new normal. On a good day, this saves Jordy two hours of travel, or more considering all the things that can go wrong and make the journey much longer. When this happens, Jordy is dependent on those around him, something he’s keen to avoid. "Sometimes, I have to argue with a bus driver before he’ll activate the ramp that helps me get on. Or, if I take the train, there might be no one on the platform to help me get off. These things don’t just take time, they sap my energy." Jordy has noticed that working from home has left him feeling more energetic. "After a working day and a long journey, all I want to do is eat and go to bed. Now that I don’t have to travel, I’ve got time free in the evening for my friends or a good film. Working from home has been the only good thing COVID-19 has done for me."

Freedom and independence
Jordy does go to the office twice a month, which allows him to meet colleagues face to face and have a personal conversation with his team leader. Unlike his problems with public transport, Jordy no longer encounters obstacles once he arrives at VodafoneZiggo. There are lifts, accessible toilets, height-adjustable desks, and virtually no barriers. "That makes it a great place to work for people with disabilities."

Looking to the future, Jordy still sees himself working from home, but it is easier to show up at the office now as he doesn’t have to use public transport these days. "I’ve got my own car now," says Jordy with a proud smile. "It’s still a long drive from Beverwijk to Leeuwarden, but I’m not dependent on others anymore."