LG Innotek "Disabled Employees Work as Baristas at the Workplace... Working Together"

LG Innotek Disability Standard Workplace 'InnoWith' Celebrates 10th Anniversary This Year

At LG Innotek's Gumi plant in-house cafe 'Cafe With,' a barista from LG Innotek's 'Inno With' team is preparing beverages to sell to employees.

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Sun-mi] Among the employees at LG Innotek's Gumi plant, who have become noticeably busier alongside the company's rapid growth, 'Cafe With' is regarded as one of the best welfare benefits. This is because they can enjoy 'a moment of coffee relaxation' for just 700 won. With a mission to make coffee comparable to that of any franchise coffee shop, the 13 baristas at Gumi Cafe With are responsible for the employees' '700 won happiness.' Among them, 10 are people with developmental disabilities, excluding the manager.

Cafe With is an in-house cafe operated by 'Inno With,' a subsidiary-type standard workplace for people with disabilities under LG Innotek. It is run mainly by employees with developmental disabilities not only at the Gumi plant but also at other plants such as Gwangju, Pyeongtaek, and Ansan.

On the 18th, LG Innotek announced that Inno With, celebrating its 10th anniversary this year, plans to open three additional Cafe With locations soon in the Paju and Gumi areas. Currently, Inno With employs a total of 136 people with disabilities. Among them, 107 are severely disabled, accounting for nearly 80%. Following the recruitment of 58 people with disabilities last year, the company plans to hire around 40 more this year.

The company is also improving various convenience facilities and working environments to ensure that employees with disabilities can work safely. Additionally, it provides education such as physical activities necessary for smooth interpersonal relationships and how to use banks to help employees with disabilities achieve social independence.

Besides Cafe With, Inno With operates various businesses suitable for people with disabilities, including cleaning, landscaping, convenience stores, in-house mail, and coffee machine maintenance, leading the way in hiring people with disabilities. In recognition of its efforts to improve the working environment for employees with disabilities and expand their employment, it received the Prime Minister's Award at the 2021 Disability Employment Promotion Conference.

Seol Jin-gil, CEO of LG Innotek Inno With, said, “Employees with disabilities are talents responsible for the welfare of LG Innotek plant executives and staff,” adding, “Inno With will continue to provide opportunities for people with disabilities to stand proudly on their own and create a happy workplace together with employees with disabilities.”