A World for All: Celebrating PwD Month at PhonePe

At PhonePe, we strive to build an organization where all employees feel a sense of belonging and can thrive and contribute meaningfully. This belief drives our commitment to creating an inclusive workplace for persons with disabilities (PwD). This December, we embraced this commitment by celebrating PwD Month with the theme: Different People in an Indifferent World. This theme underscores the importance of creating a society where differences are not just acknowledged but celebrated. Through thought-provoking initiatives and heartfelt conversations, we explored our shared responsibility in shaping an inclusive future.

We kicked off the month with our PwD Referral Campaign, encouraging employees to champion inclusivity by referring talented PwD candidates to join our team. This initiative reflects our belief that diversity starts with proactive action. In addition, we celebrated the contributions and experiences of people with disabilities with a special initiative—Together We Thrive—an exclusive networking event led by Marcus Terry, our Head of Customer Experience, and Manmeet Sandhu, CHRO. This meetup provided a meaningful platform for connection, collaboration, and community-building. It was inspiring for PhonePe-ers to see their colleagues share their journeys, exchange ideas, and celebrate the strength in diversity. 

Reflecting on the event, Jayakanthan S, Catalogue Executive, shared: “I sincerely appreciate the opportunity to participate in the meetup with PwD individuals. This valuable experience provided insightful perspectives and fostered a greater understanding of inclusivity within the workplace. The discussions were both informative and inspiring. I’m grateful for the opportunity to learn from their experiences and deeply appreciate the efforts made by PhonePe to organize this meetup and connect with PwD professionals.”

Meanwhile, Prajwal P, Service Delivery Engineer, reflected: “I recently participated in an impactful meeting focused on workplace accessibility to understand and address the challenges faced by employees with disabilities. As a deaf team member, I highlighted the critical need for company-wide captioning implementation to ensure effective communication and full participation in meetings. We also discussed accessibility challenges such as workplace navigation, digital tool accessibility, and better healthcare. What stood out was PhonePe’s genuine commitment to creating an inclusive workplace where every employee can contribute fully. The meeting wasn’t just about discussing problems – we focused on actionable solutions and establishing clear next steps to enhance accessibility across the organization.”

Our Voices of Inclusion social media campaign brought employee stories to the forefront, showcasing the unique perspectives of our diverse workforce. Eswar Kakarla, Advisor, Service Recovery, shared: “What I value most about PhonePe is the culture of openness and equality. There’s no fear of hierarchy here. If I face a challenge, I can approach anyone, and I know my voice will be heard. This sense of belonging has been instrumental in my growth. I believe there should be no hesitation or preconceived notions when working with persons with disabilities. Organizations that embrace diversity and inclusivity gain a deeper understanding of various perspectives and needs.”

Inclusivity at PhonePe goes beyond conversations; it’s embedded in our infrastructure and policies. All our infrastructure upgrades comply with the mandates of the RPWD Act 2016 and the National Building Code 2016. Additionally, PhonePe has partnered with Enable India to conduct a detailed audit by accessibility experts. This helps us incorporate necessary infrastructural enhancements such as braille signs, tactile ground surface indicators (TGSIs), PwD-friendly washrooms, wheelchair ramps in common areas, loop induction systems, and dedicated parking for PwDs. We champion inclusivity by ensuring fair and equitable hiring practices. We also prioritize education through unconscious bias workshops for managers and regular awareness sessions led by experts.

Ekagra Singh, Software Engineer, shared his pride in being part of PhonePe: “My overall experience at PhonePe has been amazing. Everyone, from my manager to HR to the facilities team, has been incredibly kind and supportive. Moreover, PhonePe’s premises are highly accessible, which makes a big difference. I’m proud to be part of a workplace that genuinely cares about creating an inclusive culture. The PhonePe networking event was a great experience. I really appreciate how open the team was to feedback, especially about making the workplace more inclusive for PwDs.”

At PhonePe, we recognize that building an inclusive workplace is a journey. Each step—whether it’s enhancing accessibility, refining hiring practices, or celebrating diverse stories—brings us closer to a world where everyone can thrive. PwD Month reminds us that inclusivity isn’t a destination but a continuous journey. Together, we’ll keep learning, growing, and building a culture where diversity is truly celebrated.