European Disability Employment Week (EDEW) comes to an end today. Every year, the aim of this week is to review the various mechanisms introduced to facilitate disability inclusion at work, to discuss and share views, and to learn and raise awareness about employment for disabled people.

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These aims are shared by the Disability Office and the Human Resources Department, which for the past three years have been organizing events on campus to inform staff about these issues. 

The newsletter team wanted to take this opportunity to add to its series of profiles and introduce you to two members of the Institut Pasteur's Disability Office so that they can tell us about their work and what drives them.

What is your role at the Institut Pasteur – what does it involve?

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 "After training as a lawyer, I entered the corporate world in 2006 as a legal expert in employment law, before joining the Institut Pasteur at the end of 2012 as chief legal officer for international and HR issues. With my team of three legal experts, we work on a daily basis to safeguard contractual relationships between Institut Pasteur staff (and OREX) and the Institut Pasteur itself.

I provide legal guidance to our colleagues in the Human Resources Department and other departments on various aspects of labor law: employment contracts, working time, working relationships, labor relations, harassment, sexist behavior and support on sensitive issues. Given the current focus on quality of life and working conditions, an issue which affects us all, I also work with my colleagues to ensure compliance with the legal and institutional framework at the Institut Pasteur with the aim of promoting healthy and positive working relationships and equal treatment between staff in the same situation."

Sandrine Daniel

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 “At the Institut Pasteur, I am a human resources manager, which means that I look after all the administrative issues that staff have to deal with in the course of their work, from the day they arrive to the day they leave. My responsibilities include employment contracts and addenda, various certificates, and also other written agreements. I am also a contact person for more specific questions, for example regarding leave, or for tasks related to the arrival of a new staff member, OREX or intern. 

I work with various colleagues in my department, with the assistants and managers working in the same area as me, and also with other people on campus, depending on the situation. 

I would like to take this opportunity to thank my manager, my colleagues and the other people I work with on a daily basis."

Emilie Quélier

Can you tell us a little more about your commitment to disability awareness? 

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"I have long been driven by a commitment to equity and justice, and that is why I agreed to take on the task of setting up and leading the Disability Office, and why I accepted the role of Disability Officer for the Institut Pasteur alongside my legal activities. This new role has given me a new purpose in my work, encouraging me to put myself in other people's shoes, complete training in this field and raise awareness more generally, so that we can put an end to stereotypes and prejudices and make inclusion a reality.

None of this would have been possible without the efforts and complementary skills of my six colleagues – Christèle Huon, Émilie Quélier, Maëlle Le Cunff, Marine Kerjean, Emmanuelle Porté and Rebeca Pareno Castro –, who volunteered alongside me to work towards the objectives of the Disability Office, and who have stepped up to the task with determination and enthusiasm."

Sandrine Daniel

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"Disability awareness is something that has a special meaning for me personally, particularly since I became aware of the experiences of a close friend who is diabetic. After spending time with her over several years, I realized just how many difficulties she faces on a daily basis, not just in managing her illness but also in the impact it has on her working life.

I came to realize that during my childhood and teenage years I had picked up many stereotypes and preconceptions about disability. Today, this realization has made me deeply committed to the question of inclusion, regardless of people's visible or invisible differences. 

When Sandrine asked me to join the Disability Office two and a half years ago, I said yes straight away. It was completely in line with my personal and professional values, the fact of being able to work within the Institut Pasteur to improve the integration and professional development of people with disabilities." 
 

Emilie Quélier

How does your commitment play out in the Disability Office?

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“As Disability Officer, and with the valuable daily support of Deputy Disability Officer Christèle Huon, I lead the office, and we are gradually implementing the action plan adopted following the review conducted in 2023 with the help of Agefiph. 

As well as supporting people with disabilities on campus who can benefit from our help – with the valuable cooperation of the Occupational Health and Prevention Department, with which we hold regular meetings to decide on specific support measures to keep these staff members in work as far as possible –, we organize events and information sessions on campus, especially taking advantage of the opportunity of European Disability Employment Week (EDEW). Over the longer term, we also want to consider introducing more tailored professional training for physically demanding jobs, with the aim of anticipating and preventing potential health impacts. The Disability Office is receiving a growing number of messages and requests (handicap@pasteur.fr) and we feel that we are meeting a real need for Institut Pasteur staff – which we are extremely pleased about, alongside the Department for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI).”

Sandrine Daniel

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“Within the Disability Office, I am involved in administrative tasks related to the recognition of statuses and requests for reasonable adjustments in conjunction with the Occupational Health and Prevention Department and Cap Emploi. I am also sometimes involved with financial aspects, for example following up on disability allowances from Agefiph and monitoring the Disability Office budget.

Depending on the events organized by the Disability Office, for example a breakfast meeting, training/information sessions, the "Exosquelettes" project* or EDEW, we divide the various tasks up among ourselves as members of the Disability Office.

I would like to conclude by thanking all those who have attended information and training sessions run by the Disability Office, and also all those who support us and get involved in our various events. Disability is something that affects us all, whether directly or indirectly.

Emilie Quélier

Keep tuned to the newsletter as we will soon be releasing the latest episode of the Institut Pasteur podcast "En immers(i)on," in which you will hear from the members of the Disability Office and find out more about their work!

*In partnership with the SPST and the central animal facility, the Disability Task Force has been actively involved in implementing a prevention program related to the introduction of exoskeletons. The aim of using exoskeletons, which are physical assistance devices, is to be able to redistribute effort and reduce musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) in certain situations. As part of this prevention and support initiative, the Disability Task Force has acquired two exoskeletons, which are currently intended for use by employees of the central animal facility.