The Leading News & Information Service For The Facilities, Workplace & Built Environment Community

Warsaw ISS HQ First for Platinum Accessibility

ISS HQ Wheelchair Ramp
29 July 2022
 

The ISS Hub, a new global headquarter hub for the facility service provider ISS in Warsaw, has just been evaluated by accessibility assessment organisation Mobility Mojo.

The premises received top marks for accessibility and usability, making it the first to ever reach Platinum status.

The announcement also coincides with Disability Pride Month, an international event that shines a light on physical, learning, hidden disabilities and mental health conditions, enabling open conversations. In honour of this, ThisWeekinFM examined the concept of "disability confidence" as a best practice way for organisations to deliver consistent and respectful adaptations for people with disabilities. 

 

Features for the Criteria  

 

Wide passageways and doors, simple signage for easy orientation, spacious lifts, lowered reception desk, visual impairment friendly colour schemes, ramps to all terraces and even specially designed furniture handles are just a few examples of how ISS has adapted their new Warsaw headquarters to the highest accessibility and usability standards.

This will allow for a more diversified group of employees and guests to feel welcome and included at the office.  

Global accessibility organisation Mobility Mojo has assessed ISS Warsaw, evaluating all the areas and office facilities of the building, including building entrance, reception, hallways, lighting, breakout spaces, stairs/lifts, working stations, meeting rooms and cafeteria.

With a previously unheard of 9.6/10 score, the ISS Warsaw Hub has received the top rating of Platinum, becoming the first in the world to reach this level.

 

Every Person Makes a Unique Contribution

 

Margot Slattery, Global Diversity and Inclusion Manager of ISS, says "[she's] truly excited by this Platinum score, which is a testament to ISS’s efforts in creating inclusive workplaces, where everybody can be their authentic self and feel like they belong. Diversity and Inclusion must never just be words in company policies. An inclusive mindset and culture should be reflected and reinforced by the way we talk, look and act, as well as through the physical surroundings of the workplace.

"This goes not just for ISS, but also for our 40,000 customers around the world. Going forward, this accessibility assessment approach will be part of our workplace services in order to support our customer’s D&I agendas even further."   

The ISS Hub is located in Fabryka Norblina, a multifunctional complex in Warsaw’s Wola district, which belongs to the Capital Park Group. The common areas of the Fabryka Norblina building also contributed to the platinum score, as it was designed with the highest standards in terms of diversity and inclusion.

Kinga Nowakowska, COO and member of the management board at Capital Park Group, also commented on its accomodating approach.

“When looking at the aspects related to the availability of the Norblin Factory for people with different needs and requirements, we are cooperating with the non-profit organisation ‘The Integration Foundation’. At the stage of our investment implementation, we introduced a number of various amenities that make it easier for people with disabilities to move around at our complex, in line with the foundation’s recommendations. 

"This included clear directional information at the main entrances, adequate lightning, dedicated parking spaces located in close proximity or directly at the entrances of elevator lifts, automatic garage entrance doors, wide lifts with lowered panel and voice notifications, bells-intercoms at office receptions and lowered spaces to cater for people who use wheelchairs as well as toilets equipped with handles, supports and alarms, to mention just a few."

ISS is also in the process of assessing its global headquarters in Copenhagen, with more offices to follow moving forward.  

Picture: ISS HQ wheelchair ramp. Image credit: ISS.

Article written by Bailey Sparkes | Published 29 July 2022

Share



Related Articles

Premier Inn Apologises to Paralympic Swimmer After Lift Outage

Paralympian Ellie Challis and her father were unable to access their Premier Inn hotel room due to a broken lift. As reported by the BBC, Ellie Challis, a Paralympic...

 Read Full Article
New Built Environment Design Standard Addresses Neurodiversity Inequality

A new building design standard has been created to ensure that the built environment is accessible to both people with physical disabilities and neurodivergent people...

 Read Full Article
Disability Pride Month – The Business Case for Equality

July marks Disability Pride Month, an international event that shines a light on physical, learning, hidden disabilities and mental health conditions, enabling open...

 Read Full Article
Transport for London Urges Commuters to Offer Up Seats

Transport for London is encouraging people to give up their seats to people who may need them to mark Priority Seating Week.   Transport for London (TfL)...

 Read Full Article
We Still Need ‘Rallying Cry Events’ to Address Gender Imbalance, says ISS CEO

Liz Benison, CEO at ISS UK & Ireland, spoke about gender-balanced workplaces to mark International Women’s Day. Gender balance is one of the five pillars...

 Read Full Article
Accessible Facilities for Autism – Bristol Airport

The business case for a more accessible travel experience is clear – but how can built environment professionals make public spaces such as airports less stressful...

 Read Full Article
International Day of People with Disabilities – How Can FMs Get Involved?

On The UN International Day of People with Disabilities, how can FMs use their influence to promote the rights and wellbeing of persons with disabilities? More than...

 Read Full Article
Sodexo Re-Accredited as Disability Confident Leader

Sodexo has had its leader status in the UK Government's Disability Confident scheme re-accredited for a further three years. The Disability Confident scheme...

 Read Full Article
UK Government Launches Strategy to Address Disability Employment Gap

Boris Johnson has launched a new National Disability Strategy, including plans to consult on disability workforce reporting for businesses with more than 250...

 Read Full Article
Accessibility and Our Cities – Why is This Relevant to Inclusion?

How is the erosion of the traditional high street impacting access and inclusion in our cities? Whilst much is being written about how socially distanced,...

 Read Full Article