PARTNERSHIP TEXT

As part of a pilot educational program for employees titled "Equal in Diversity," conducted by KGHM, a special conference and workshops were held. At the palace in Krotoszyce, specialists and business representatives discussed the phenomenon of neurodiversity and the creation of a work environment friendly to all.

The event, "NEURODIVERSITY. The Strength of Differences, or How to Create a Work Environment Drawing on Potential," was held under the patronage of the Ministry of Education and Science. KGHM's partners in organizing the conference were the Association of Large Families 3 plus and the Naval Academy in Gdynia.

- I would like to express my sincere gratitude that KGHM, a national champion, is addressing such an important topic as neurodiversity. The copper company understands other people and recognizes that we are all different. Disseminating knowledge about neurodiversity is your strength. Thank you for this commitment - said Marzena Machałek, Undersecretary of State at the Ministry of Education and Science, during the conference opening.

- KGHM is a diverse company, and we build our potential on this. The neurodiversity project builds awareness within our organization, but not only. This topic concerns not only our current or future employees, but also their families. Collaborating with individuals with different needs will only strengthen our crew - added Marek Makuch, Director General of Human Resources Management at KGHM Polska Miedź S.A.

The phenomenon of neurodiversity is increasingly breaking through into social awareness. Every year, many companies, including KGHM, engage in a series of initiatives, such as "Poland in Blue," whose task is to promote awareness of autism. However, autism is not the only condition that falls under this concept. Other examples include ADHD, dyslexia, dysgraphia, dyscalculia, Tourette's syndrome, or highly sensitive personality.

The copper company is also undertaking its own initiatives, such as the pilot project for KGHM employees and representatives of patron schools in the Copper Belt, titled "Equal in Diversity." Special workshops were organized, with lectures delivered by specialists from the Naval Academy in Gdynia. Participants had the opportunity to learn, among other things, how neurodivergent individuals function in the labor market. A significant topic was the integration of teams with the participation of neurodivergent individuals.

During the meeting in Krotoszyce, KGHM's activities to date were summarized, but there were also lectures and training sessions for participants. A discussion panel, involving business representatives, saw the emergence of ideas and proven practices related to building a work environment friendly to all. The discussion also covered the possibilities of supporting neurodivergent students within the Polish education system.

Research indicates that the phenomenon of neurodiversity may affect 15 to 20 percent of the general population. In practice, this means that in our daily lives, we encounter neuroatypical individuals not only among children and adolescents but also in the professional environment. Efforts to gain appropriate knowledge about how atypical brains function, learning how to interact with them properly, and, above all, how to leverage their positive aspects, are becoming increasingly common among aware employers.