SAP has already run successful pilots of hiring autistic workers in India and Ireland and the results showed an increase in labor productivity. These projects were realized together with the Danish consulting company Specialisterne, specializing in employing of autistic workers. Now, SAP wants to work with the company even further. The full operation of the project will begin this year in the U.S., Canada and Germany. The aim is to implement the program for the employment of autistic workers in all global locations of SAP.
Autism is a neural developmental disorder the typical symptoms of which include repetitive patterns of behavior and impaired communication and social skills. That of course makes it difficult for the autistic people to find a job. Severely affected autistic people can, unfortunately, not be employed. There are, however, low-level autism spectrum disorders (such as the Asperger Syndrome) in spite of which autistic people can operate at work very well. Sice they display above average analytical skills, the positions of testers and programmers are almost perfect for them.
SAP HR Director Luisa Delgado said in a press release that she considered the employment of autistic people as a competitive advantage and an ability to strengthen the company's talent diversity.
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