Ricoh launches an affinity group for colleagues with disabilities

Ricoh UK, Friday 2^nd December 2022

To mark the International Day of People with Disabilities taking place on the 3^rd December, Ricoh UK announced today the launch of its latest affinity group for employees living with a disability. 

The disability affinity group is the fourth programme to be launched in 2022, following ethnicity, LGBTQ+ and gender. Its objectives are to:

• Understand the barriers that might exist within the organisation and work together to remove them
• Recognise the value and celebrate the diversity that Ricoh colleagues with a disability bring to the business 
• Provide support for Ricoh employees through policy, process and benefits
• Provide opportunities for mutual learning for the disabled colleagues as well as for other employees who wish to develop their understanding of disability 
• Create a community and allyship within the business 
• Make sure people with disabilities are able to perform at their best and progress within Ricoh

The affinity group initiative is a voluntary, employee-led programme, open to everyone who would like to become a member. The groups we have at Ricoh act as open forums for employees to meet and discuss issues and challenges surrounding shared identities, experiences and beliefs as well as ideas and policies. Policy ideas and suggestions are communicated to the company’s leadership via the Executive Sponsor for each focus area – these are: Marco Pezzani (wellbeing, mental health, disability), Chas Moloney (LGBTQ+), Glenn Griggs (gender) and Rowan Jeffreys-Hoar (ethnicity). 

This latest announcement coincides with Ricoh’s recent recognition as a Disability Confident Employer - level 2 of the Disability Confident government scheme. As part of this pledge, Ricoh commits to an action plan centred around two themes: getting the right people for your business; and keeping and developing your people.

Marco Pezzani, National Customer Service Director and Executive Sponsor for Mental Health and Wellbeing at Ricoh UK, commented: ‘I have always been a firm believer that any organisation is only as strong as its people. Personally, I couldn’t be more pleased with the progress we have made in the last couple of years on all aspects of wellbeing for our people. Ricoh’s recent recognition as a Disability Confident Employer is a testament of our commitment to creating a fully inclusive workplace, and the work doesn’t stop there – we continue working on our action plan to become a Disability Confident Leader.’ He continued: ‘Not every disability is visible and it’s important that we all continue to raise awareness and learn – not just on the International Day of People with Disabilities, but all year around. An affinity group dedicated to disability will ensure we continue delivering our action plan to improve accessibility for all including Ricoh employees, customers and suppliers. This is particularly important now that many of us work remotely or in a hybrid way.’ 

About Disability Confident employer scheme

Disability Confident is creating a movement of change, encouraging employers to think differently about disability and take action to improve how they recruit, retain and develop disabled people.

Being Disability Confident is a unique opportunity to lead the way in your community, and you might just discover someone your business cannot do without.

It was developed by employers and disabled people’s representatives to make it rigorous but easily accessible, particularly for smaller businesses.

For more information visit Disability Confident employer scheme - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)