JOIN USBrewing and serving silently
While ordering a cup of coffee or burger have you ever been struck by the idea that the person on the other end of the counter might be differently abled.
Private companies hiring the hearing impaired, is on its way to becoming a trend. Metrolife explores mainstreaming of the deaf and dumb.
A Costa Coffee outlet in Green Park and a KFC outlet in Vasant Kunj are prime examples of places where a major portion of employees are hearing impaired.
Functioning as regular outlets, they are well located and many a time one doesn’t even realise that the there is something special here, till the staff hands you over a piece of paper with a pen and requests you to write down the order.
If you are observant enough, you will see the staff conversing in sign language. The employees are hearing impaired. Amazed? For them, its just another working day.
One of the staff members, Nagmathuling Rongmei, smiles as you meet him. Nagma has been working in this outlet since 2007. He says (through sign language translated by manager Vipin Kumar) “I came to Delhi in 2006 from Manipur to complete my education but was unable to find a job. Costa hired me and since then I am happy.”
He supports his family in Manipur and wants to study further but expresses inability to do so along with a job. His colleague Rajiv Ranjan Mishra from Bihar, who has a course in technical training is hoping to land a government job. “I will be happy when I get a government job.” Till then he’s happy with cappuccino!
Rudiger Papsch, a German, who came to India for an interview that took place in this outlet felt “weird” at being asked to write the order, “I was surprised but later realised that the staff is hearing impaired. I feel happy to see these people being integrated into society.” Now having acquired a job with Bill Clinton Foundation, Rudiger says, “The whole operation works so smoothly.” He confesses he has not seen such an inclusive effort in other countries.
A usual visit to any Café Coffee Day outlet will not reveal to the customer that the person who brewed coffee is hearing impaired.
Working as brewer in one of the outlets, Sandeep says (with help from manager Avinash Rawat), “I tried getting a government job but it is difficult to get into the quota.” In the absence of a regular source of income, he landed up in CCD which as a policy is more than happy to have people like him as employees.
K. Ramakrishnan, President Marketing, CCD says, “Silent brewmasters have a heightened sense of smell and vision which ensure the most appealing taste and visual presentation of coffees. They value the position they have been given and do not take things for granted. We are very happy to see the enthusiasm with which they contribute to bringing satisfaction to our customers.”
KFC has employed more than 200 hearing impaired people. But the outlet in Vasant Kunj works on lines of Costa. The story of managers working with these employees is also interesting. While Avinash was already familiar with sign language (he has a hearing impaired brother), Vipin learnt the language on the job with help from his staff. As you open the door to leave, their eyes wait to see you wave at them!