Working conditions in our workshops for people with disabilities
by Michael Watson (comments: 0
Bee friendly stands for biodiversity and social sustainability. Our commitment to ourselves is to approach people and the environment with the utmost respect. We naturally apply this approach when selecting our customers, suppliers, and cooperation partners. Essentially, we would never cooperate with organizations if we felt that they mistreated people, animals, or the environment. This also applies to the Kurpfalz Workshop of Lebenshilfe Wiesloch and the DIAKONIEWERKSTÄTTEN Rhein-Neckar of Gemeindediakonie Mannheim, where people with disabilities manufacture our bee-friendly products.
While at Bee friendly, we advocate for bees and biodiversity, Lebenshilfe Wiesloch and Gemeindediakonie ensure that diversity flourishes within society. Since 2021, the Bee friendly bee seed-bag has been processed at the Kurpfalz Workshop of Lebenshilfe Wiesloch; the honeycombs for our bee hotels have been produced at the DIAKONIEWERKSTÄTTEN Rhein-Neckar since 2023. The dedicated employees on-site take care of processing, packaging, and logistics – keeping our production sustainable and local.

In the recent past, there have been various media reports about poor working conditions and unfair wages in workshops for people with disabilities. We expressly distance ourselves from this and condemn such organizations. For us, both Lebenshilfe Wiesloch and DIAKONIEWERKSTÄTTEN Rhein-Neckar are much more positive examples of how inclusion and participation are practiced on a daily basis.
During numerous personal visits to the two workshops, we talked to many people there and were totally blown away every time by how positive the atmosphere was. In addition to meaningful work, Lebenshilfe and Gemeindediakonie offer a diverse and varied sports, art and cultural program. The employees are picked up from home in the morning, driven home in the evening and can try their hand at a wide range of activities in the workshops (without any pressure to perform).
We would like to take this opportunity to thank Lebenshilfe Wiesloch and the DIAKONIEWERKSTÄTTEN Rhein-Neckar for their valuable work. You make this world a better place and we are proud to call you our cooperation partners!
