SM Markets bags award for workplace inclusion

SM Markets was named Partner of the Year by the Autism Society of the Philippines’ Autism Works at the Angels Walk recently held at the Mall of Asia Arena.

SM Markets championed workplace inclusion program for persons with autism (PWAs) in select Savemore Market and SM Supermarket branches, through the company’s pioneering AutiSM at Work program.

AutiSM at Work started in 2016 at Savemore Market Light Residences and was eventually implemented in other SM Markets stores to accommodate more PWAs.

AutiSM at Work provides young adults on the spectrum to be productive contributors in a workplace.

Participants of the program are assigned various tasks in the supermarket selling area.

The program is complemented by disability sensitivity training for all frontliners and in-store information for customers.

Ryan Lucero, who works at Savemore Market Acacia adds, “I want to work and I want to have experience. I also want to be independent. I like working here at SM because the people here are friendly and supportive. They are accepting of me as someone having autism.”

In 2017, the program supported six Savemore and SM Supermarket branches.

By the first quarter of 2018, the program will be implemented in 17 stores.

To-date, the program has yielded 69 positions for persons with autism over three years.

“As long-time advocates of persons with disabilities, we are happy to support this project and designed it to be as inclusive as possible. In fact, participants of AutiSM at Work get minimum wage compensation so it’s really a total package from having the opportunity to work to getting compensated for it. Furthermore, management has approved the extension and expansion of the project. We have more than doubled the number of participating stores to accommodate more AutiSM at Work participants,” Savemore Market president Jojo Tagbo said.

“The program does not only help persons with autism find productive work; but it has also helped SM Markets employees become better professionals,” shared Mona Magno-Veluz, National president of the Autism Society Philippines. “Because of the sheer scale of the program, training and operations staff of SM Markets all over the country are learning first-hand how to manage this under-tapped workforce; and developing policies and practices to support them, that are best in class.”

SM Markets partners with the Autism Society Philippines to provide critical support to companies and workers with autism, through assessment, recruitment and performance management with the help of its nationwide network of transition specialists and job coaches.

Autism is a lifelong developmental exceptionality that challenges an individual’s ability to communicate, socialize, and adapt to the world.

It is a spectrum condition which manifests in different ways in different people.

While some PWAs need help with daily living, there are those who have abilities and talents like good memory, extraordinary spatial skills, organization which are desirable qualities in the workplace.