Inclusive hiring does more than fill vacancies. It builds patience, teamwork, and mutual understanding across the workplace.
Fei Siong Group, a Singapore-owned food and beverage (F&B) group, has made inclusive employment a core part of its mission since 2017. Today, it runs 20 brands across 205 outlets, and offers persons with disabilities fair work opportunities to work and grow.
Where it started
Like Fei Siong Group’s own journey from a small, humble stall, it desires to give back began simply.
“Fei Siong Group could flourish because people gave us opportunities and supported us along the way,” said Ms Samantha Lin (above), assistant head of human resources at Fei Siong Group.
Since 2016, the company has run several corporate social responsibilities activities – from distributing food donations to migrant workers living in dormitories, to providing food options through the Feed the City 3.0 initiative. While these efforts were successful, the company wanted to create a deeper, more personal impact in the community.
In partnership with SG Enable, the company hired its first staff member with a disability in 2023.
“Initially, I was worried that we could not accommodate different needs because of our workplace environment. However, we decided to take the leap of faith,” shared Ms Lin.
This opened the door to partnerships with other social service organisations including a special education school where the company offered job placements for teenagers to experience F&B roles. It also created job opportunities for individuals recovering from mental health challenges.
Paradigm shift
“Offering individuals the opportunity to work, earn a living and be part of society is more than just a business decision. It is doing what we believe is right,” said Ms Lin, who adds that inclusive hiring strengthens teams.
Although there were initial concerns about whether employees with disabilities could cope with fast-paced F&B operations, the company soon experienced a shift in mindset.
“Instead of focusing on challenges, we engaged the SPD Employment Support Programme (ESP) to identify the strengths of each individual and help them hone and master those skills,” explained Ms Lin. Support from SPD, including workplace assessments and job coaching, helped make the transition seamless.
That commitment is reflected in three employees hired through ESP who are now all thriving: finance executive Ms Elaine Chang, who acquired a disability post-surgery; administrative assistant, Mr Mohammad Isham, who is Deaf and has partial vision loss; and administrative assistant, Ms Julia Poh, who is Deaf.
A major surgery to remove a tumour in her cervical spine in 2020 affected Ms Chang’s dexterity in her right hand and also her gait. She took a career break to focus on rehabilitation and recovery. In 2024, Ms Chang joined Fei Siong Group’s finance department after a collaborative recruitment process: her job coach from SPD supported her during the job interview, where she demonstrated her capabilities to the chief finance officer.
During onboarding, the company put job accommodations in place. It provided a wheelless office chair (below) for added safety and stability. Colleagues also shared keyboard shortcuts to help her navigate tasks, without the strain of using a mouse.
For Ms Poh, who joined the company in 2023, inclusion meant adapting communication so she could do well in her role. When she first started, some co-workers were unsure how to communicate with a Deaf colleague as they did not know sign language. The barrier soon fell with mutual effort and patience. Her colleagues provided written notes for discussions and task handovers, ensuring nothing was lost in translation.
“Our team has been patient with colleagues who have disabilities. They ensured that their colleagues are well taken care of, be it buying breakfast or including them in team lunches,” said Ms Lin. Over time, management also saw the benefits of inclusive hiring. Greater empathy and cooperation among staff showed that an inclusive workplace is also a more resilient one.
In 2025, the company deepened its partnership with SPD through its School-2-Work (S2W) Transition Programme. This initiative supports students with autism with a structured environment to adapt to the F&B industry, turning early potential into professional success.
A culture of empathy and resilience
Fei Siong Group has shown that inclusive hiring can foster empathy and cooperation. Ms Lin encourages like-minded businesses to take the leap.
“You don’t need to have everything perfect from the start. We hope to see more employers embracing inclusive employment, so that it becomes part of everyday business practice. Everyone deserves the opportunity to work and contribute, and businesses can play a meaningful role in making that happen,” she added.
Ms Chang also encourages persons with disabilities who hope to return to the workplace to take the first step.
“If you don’t make your first move, you will be stuck where you are. It can be scary, but if just speak up and ask for help, and you will get the help you need,” she said.