On the nationwide “Schichtwechsel” event day on September 24, 2026, employees from companies and workshops for people with disabilities swapped jobs. Heraeus Precious Metals also participated: Karsten Gilmer from the BWMK visited the company in Hanau (Germany). In return, Volker Skowski, Works Council Chair and representative for employees with severe disabilities at Heraeus Precious Metals, learned about the work at one of the social enterprise’s workshops.
The “Schichtwechsel” event is designed to bring people with and without disabilities into conversation with one another through the shared experience of work. Employees from workshops learn about professional fields in companies. Employees from companies gain insights into the diverse tasks and skills involved in workshops. Encounters on an equal footing are intended to help break down reservations on both sides and highlight opportunities for greater participation in working life.
A Day at Heraeus Precious Metals
Karsten Gilmer spent his “Schichtwechsel” in the Communications department. There, he learned how the communications department at Heraeus Precious Metals operates - from internal communications and events to public relations. Further discussions with employees from Human Resources, Marketing, and Digitalization rounded out his visit. This allowed him not only to gain insight into a single department but also to get to know various roles and key contacts within the company.
“I was interested in getting to know a different company outside the workshop,” says Gilmer. He was particularly excited about visiting Heraeus, a major Hanau-based company. He particularly appreciated the professionally planned day as well as the open and very warm reception he received during his visit. This brought home a central goal of the “Schichtwechsel” program for him: getting to know a new work environment, asking questions, and meeting people in person. For anyone who would like to participate themselves, Gilmer recommends being curious and open-minded.
Insights Into the Work at the BWMK
For Heraeus Precious Metals and the BWMK, it wasn’t just a one-way visit: While Gilmer was getting to know Heraeus Precious Metals, Volker Skowski visited the BWMK’s Großauheim (Germany) rehabilitation workshop, which specializes in digital document management. There, he gained insights into the processing of a customer order and the organization of the individual work steps. IT support also played a role in this process. The return visit provided a firsthand look at the work and experiences of the employees in the workshop.
“As I was able to see for myself, every single step requires a great deal of practice and experience,” Skowski reports. He was impressed by the exchange and would gladly participate in another “Schichtwechsel.”
Gilmer’s impressions of the open reception and the conversations in various departments demonstrate what the action day at Heraeus Precious Metals immediately achieved: He was able to get to know a company beyond his usual work environment and engage with employees. In turn, Skowski’s visit provided a concrete glimpse into the work at BWMK. The first step - a personal shift in perspective on both sides - has been successfully achieved.
