Susanne Spors Susanne Spors has worked as a store employee at PENNY since 2013. in 2019, she suffered a serious stroke of fate. Due to a serious and protracted illness, her left leg had to be amputated. But she didn't let this get her down. After a period of rehabilitation, she fought her way back into the world of work. PENNY helped her and accommodated her in terms of activities, work location and working hours. one spoke to her about how she copes with everyday life with her physical limitations.

one: You are celebrating your tenth anniversary at PENNY this August. Which shop do you work in?
Susanne Spors: I work at the Kopernikusstraße shop in Essen. However, until my serious illness, which resulted in the amputation of my left leg from the thigh in 2019, I was employed at another shop.

one: Why did you switch?
Susanne Spors: During my reintegration after my hospitalisation and subsequent rehabilitation, I realised that I couldn't resume my work at this shop. The staffing levels in this store were relatively low, so a store employee took over all the work that needed to be done in the store. That didn't work out for me, as I can no longer perform certain tasks as well with my prosthesis - I have an electronic knee. This includes putting away goods, for example. I was very happy that PENNY then offered me the opportunity to move to another shop near my home, which has more staff. I feel very comfortable in this store, on Kopernikusstraße in Essen, because I have the opportunity there to take on tasks that I can carry out pain-free with my disability.

one: What activities are these?
Susanne Spors: It's mainly the work at the checkout, which is not a problem for me and I also really enjoy it.

one: Why do you enjoy working at the checkout so much?
Susanne Spors: Above all, it's the interaction with the customers that gives me a lot of pleasure. Most of them know me now and many of them know about my disability. In summer, I often wear three-quarter trousers so that my prosthesis is visible. This has become the norm for customers. I think it's good that customers treat me like any other cashier.

one:Apart from the store change , were there any other areas in which PENNY accommodated you?
Susanne Spors : The company has also been very accommodating in terms of working hours. For example, I no longer have to work late shifts, as these are difficult to reconcile with my disability.
PENNY has played a big part in the fact that I now cope well with my disability, both mentally and physically, because the company has given me the opportunity to continue working in my job. When I had my leg amputated, I doubted that I would be able to work again, as the work in the store is very physically demanding. Thanks to the helpfulness of my senior managers and the support of my colleagues in the shop, I can manage my daily routine very well.