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Transforming the

employment landscape for

people with special needs

through win-win

collaboration 26 February 2016

Agnes Wong Ai Mui

Group Technology and Operations,

Centre of Excellence & Asset Management Operations,

UOB Group

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Objective:

To provide meaningful employment opportunities

to people with special needs, based on their abilities.

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• Build a centre of excellence for the checking, digitisation

and archiving of customer documents

• Look beyond the traditional employment model to find the

right people with the skills the Bank needs

• Create a long-term sustainable employment model for

people with special needs

The vision behind UOB Scan Hub

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Finding the right people for UOB Scan Hub,

in partnership with Autism Resource Centre (ARC)

What we were looking for:

• Strong attention to detail and accuracy in their work

• High levels of concentration

• Reliability and commitment

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Win-win collaboration model

• Onboarding process

Joint job fit assessment by UOB and ARC

UOB assigned work buddies to each employee

ARC onsite job coaches to guide employees and train UOB managers

• Career progression at UOB

Level playing field opportunities

Remuneration tagged to size of job

• Ongoing engagement to encourage an inclusive community

Staff competencies development

Communication

Work as one

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UOB’s inclusive employment initiative

• A talent pool comprising people with different and

complementary abilities

First batch of employees with autism joined UOB Scan

Hub in October 2013

Today, 34 per cent of all UOB Scan Hub employees

are people with special needs

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UOB’s inclusive employment initiative

An inclusive business model offers potential for

commercial success

• Lower employee turnover

• Higher productivity

• Culture of inclusion at UOB Scan Hub

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Feedback from co-workers

“When I first joined Scan Hub, I felt apprehensive about working with people

with autism. But as I got to know them better, I realised that they can focus

on their work well and they are like you and me.”

~ Lim Xue Fang, Clerk, UOB Scan Hub

“They have taught me that focus at work is crucial.”

~ Chin Lu Kim, Special Grade Clerk, UOB Scan Hub

“They put in a lot of effort to do their job well.”

~ Mary Tan, Clerk, UOB Scan Hub

“I can learn new things from them too.”

~ Tey Wey Ann, Class II, UOB Scan Hub

“They are no different from us. In fact, they can perform better than me in

some areas.”

~ Ng Kok Leong, Clerk, UOB Scan Hub

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UOB’s inclusive employment initiative

An inclusive business model empowers people with

special needs through meaningful job opportunities:

“I would like to earn more money and save, so that I can go overseas.

When I work here, I can achieve high productivity and I feel good about it.”

~ Toh Kai Min, Clerical Assistant, UOB Scan Hub

“He is more independent – financially, and in terms of commuting and

making personal choices. He has also gained better general knowledge.”

~ Parent of Toh Kai Min

“He is happier and more positive after he started working.”

~ Parent of Yan Shi Jie, Clerk, UOB Scan Hub

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Key success factors

• Re-designing of processes and re-engineering of roles

• Right job fit based on abilities

• Training is important

• Ongoing job support

• Strong support from management and co-workers

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Thank you