In 1998, Jollibee embarked on an internship program for the hearing-impaired in select Metro Manila stores called the Deaf Employment Program.

Today, Jollibee has had over 300 hearing-impaired crew trainees in the past eight years. Jollibee celebrity endorser, Aga Mulach, and founding chairman of STEAM, a training center for the hearing impaired, proposed the idea to Jollibee. Mr. Mulach saw the need to develop skills in the hearing impaired to help them adjust to a mainstream environment and boost their self-confidence.

After thorough research, the Human Resources Department of Jollibee, acting as lead implementer of the program, designed a one-year training module in partnership with STEAM. Company-owned branches served as the pilot areas for the program where the hearing-impaired trainees and their hearing colleagues were closely monitored and evaluated. Store managers and supervisors were given sign language and deaf sensitivity classes, while the hearing-impaired trainees were given social preparation classes and counseling to prepare them for interaction with hearing colleagues and customers.

The program’s gains are visible in the transformed attitudes—not just within the Jollibee store, but from the customers as well. Marked changes include the customers’ increased understanding and patience when they interact with the hearing-impaired trainees. Even customer loyalty has been fostered: hearing-impaired customers as well as families who have family members who are hearing-impaired have expressed their gratitude and have become regular patrons of the stores participating in the program. Even the rest of Asia has taken notice of this unique employment program. During the 2006 Asian CSR Awards, Jollibee’s Deaf Employment Program was presented with a Merit Award under the Concern for Health category.

Apart from providing equal opportunity to the differently-abled, the program also passes on valuable skills to help our hearing-impaired friends assimilate into the mainstream workplace much more easily. Today, many program members still continue to be part of the Jollibee family, while others have pursued entrepreneurial endeavors—a path inspired by learning and working with Jollibee. Plans are underway to implement the Deaf Employment Program to the other company brands such as Greenwich, Chowking, Red Ribbon, and Delifrance in the years to come.