2. Understanding
Workplace Integration
The first step towards successful workplace integration is understanding that starting a new job involves more than learning new tasks. It also means becoming familiar with a new environment, understanding expectations, building working relationships, and recognising the conditions that help you perform at your best.
Many workplace challenges can be anticipated and prepared for before the first working day. This section encourages learners to think about workplace integration in a structured way and to identify the factors that may influence their own adaptation. To support this process, the module introduces the Three Layers of Workplace Integration model.
2.1 The Three Layers of Workplace Integration
The model helps learners look at workplace integration from three different perspectives:
The functional layer focuses on work tasks, responsibilities, workplace routines and the practical skills needed to perform the job.
The social layer focuses on communication, professional relationships, workplace culture and identifying people who may provide information or support.
The personal layer focuses on individual working preferences, strengths, support needs and the conditions that help the learner work effectively and maintain well-being.
Considering all three layers helps learners prepare for workplace integration in a realistic and personalised way.
Practical activities
In this section, you will:
Complete the Three Layers of Workplace Integration Worksheet to identify your strengths, possible challenges and workplace support needs.
Use an AI Prompt to explore your ideas, identify additional considerations and generate practical suggestions.
Review Marta's Case Study to see how these activities can be completed in a real-life workplace situation.
Together, these activities will help you better understand your strengths, workplace support needs and the factors that can support your successful workplace integration.
Worksheet 1: My Three Layers of Workplace Integration
Think about your future workplace and answer the questions below.
Functional Adaptation
What work tasks would you like to do well?
What do you need to learn?
(For example: workplace tasks, tools or routines.)
What support would help you do your job well?
Social Adaptation
What helps you communicate with other people?
What situations may be difficult for you?
What support from your manager or colleagues would help you?
Personal Adaptation
What helps you feel confident at work?
What routines help you work well?
What is important for your manager and colleagues to know about you?
AI-supported activity
Learners use AI Prompt A to analyse their completed worksheet. AI helps identify possible adaptation risks, personal strengths and practical strategies that may support successful workplace integration. Learners are encouraged to review the AI suggestions critically and decide which recommendations are useful for their own situation.
AI Prompt A: “Act as a career coach who supports people with disabilities in adapting to a new workplace. Here are my notes about my three layers of workplace integration: Functional Adaptation: [paste your notes]. Social Adaptation: [paste your notes]. Personal Adaptation: [paste your notes]. I also have the following disability or health condition(s): [briefly describe anything that may affect your work, such as hearing loss, chronic fatigue, anxiety, ADHD, mobility impairment, etc.]. Please help me:
Identify 3-5 possible challenges I may face during my workplace integration.
Identify 3-5 personal strengths or resources that can support me.
Suggest one practical strategy for each challenge, taking my situation into account.
Point out anything I may have overlooked when preparing for my first weeks at work.”
