Lapp Connecto receives the ‘Unprejudiced Pioneer’ recognition from the Finnish Red Cross

The Red Cross annually awards the “Unprejudiced Pioneer” recognition to companies, communities, and individuals who have promoted equality through their actions. The purpose of the award is to highlight actors who advance equal treatment in Finnish society. A key element is also the promotion of positive attitudes and open, fact-based discussion.

In 2019, the Finnish Red Cross Savo-Karelia district decided to present the recognition to two recipients, as choosing between two excellent candidates proved impossible. In North Savo, the award was given to Lapp Connecto Oy.

Lapp Connecto Oy – A company in Vieremä employing immigrants

Lapp Connecto Oy, which manufactures cable and wiring harnesses for machine and equipment construction, has operated its facility in Vieremä since 2008. The company also has sites in Hyvinkää and Poland.

For several years, the company has actively hired immigrants and trained them within its own unit. For Lapp Connecto, an applicant’s formal education or background has not been the determining factor—what matters most is the willingness to learn. Immigrants appreciate working at Lapp Connecto Oy and want to join the company. The employer has also trained its staff on how to meet and support immigrant employees and what to consider during their onboarding to ensure the best possible outcome for everyone.

Lapp Connecto Oy’s work with immigrants has been courageous and free of prejudice.

Q: What sparked the idea and courage to start hiring people who have moved to Finland?
A: As a production facility, we often have resource needs and at times challenges in finding enough workforce. We have taken an open-minded approach to recruiting, regardless of nationality, for example by organizing introductory visits. These visits have then led to language and work training periods, often involving immigrants.

Q: Approximately how many nationalities have worked for you?
A: At the moment, we have employees from around ten different nationalities, including Finland, Thailand, Bulgaria, Russia, Estonia, Iran, Ukraine, and Nicaragua.

Q: Have people who have moved to Finland brought something new to your company?
A: We see our multicultural workplace as a great richness. Multiculturalism has enriched our work community significantly, and attitudes toward immigrants have evolved over the years. Finland is a small country, and our colleagues with foreign backgrounds have helped broaden and improve the worldview and tolerance of our entire staff. We have also gained a tremendous amount of cheerful, honest, and fair-minded attitude toward work and colleagues alike.

Q: What have been the greatest successes along the way?
A: Language skills and communication have improved on both sides. However, the most important success in multiculturalism is that we have gained good employees, wonderful colleagues, and long-lasting employment relationships.

Q: Are there any future plans regarding multinationalism that you can already share?
A: We are part of the global LAPP Group, and multinationalism is a natural part of our company culture. In the future, we will continue to invest in the development of our personnel and remain committed to maintaining our rich and diverse workplace community.