Is your health status preventing you from getting a job you like? Want to help make other people’s daily lives better? Join the IKEA team!
We believe that every one of us makes IKEA better.
We’re all different, and our differences contribute to our creativity and encourage our growth. We put everything into creating a diverse work environment. We make use of the fact that we’re different. Our employees feel we value their individuality and their diversity of talents, and they’re happy that everyone can be themselves.
Every job is important to us. We offer a range of jobs with flexibility and varying work hours. If your life situation changes, you can change your schedule and adapt it as you need to.
At IKEA, we want to know you better, and find out your needs and expectations. We want you to integrate well with the IKEA team. Come and apply what you already know — and don’t be afraid to try something new and broaden your horizons. You can work in sales, run the register, apply your know-how in customer service, the restaurant or administration. We can adapt the length of your workday and adapt to your work tempo. We’d love to discuss which job would suit you, so that you’ll enjoy your work.
At the beginning, we navigate all new colleagues not only through the job, but through the working environment. Most important is the help of a mentor from a group of colleagues you can turn to whenever you need support. Your mentor will also teach you everything you need to know to work with us. We work to break down barriers not only in the environment, but also in people’s minds.
Read what our employees say about working at IKEA — what they like here, and what they worried about before they came.
Where do you work?
I work at IKEA Ostrava
What’s your position?
I work as a fill-up co-worker.
How long have you been with IKEA?
For 20 years (in 2021).
What do you like the most about IKEA as an employer?
IKEA’s approach to co-workers, including the disabled ones.
How about flexibility at work?
The working hours suit me perfectly. I got used to getting up at night. And when I want to travel, they try to accommodate my needs at work. Travelling is my big hobby.
What were you most worried about when you came on board?
What I feared most was that my disability would have been a problem for me to be hired. And when I was selected, I was concerned about how I would manage my work and become an equal partner to other colleagues.
How do you get along with your colleagues? What is the team like?
I feel very well in the team. My colleagues fully respect my health condition, they are considerate and willing to help me in case I need it.
How has IKEA supported you when it comes to your health complications?
In my job and with my type of disability, it is very important for me to keep working in the same area, where I already know everything and can manage everything well. I get maximum support and understanding in this.
What advice would you give to someone with a health issue who is thinking about working for IKEA or is getting ready to apply?
Don’t be afraid, don’t be shy and apply for the job! You should try everything. The beginnings may be difficult, but at IKEA you will find support, understanding and the possibility to use your potential and integrate into everyday life. Maybe we’ll become colleagues!
Where do you work?
I work at IKEA Brno.
What’s your position?
I work as a picker for preparing online orders. But for a long time, I also worked in IKEA Food.
How long have you been with IKEA?
Almost seven years.
What do you like most about IKEA as an employer?
As an employer, IKEA knows how to value their employees. They’ve always known that this gets the employees to work hard. I also like the company atmosphere, bonuses, flexi passes, and a great benefit is being able to set up everything the way it suits me.
How about flexibility at work?
I worked out a schedule I liked. We set up the start of my shift, the number of hours and days per week, including that I wouldn’t work on the weekend.
How has IKEA supported you when it comes to your health complications?
As an employer, IKEA takes health into account. For a long time, I worked in IKEA Food, where the work is physically demanding, but considering my health issues, I couldn’t continue anymore.
I wanted to quit altogether, but IKEA offered me a chance to change departments. They didn’t want me to leave. I like picking — I wanted a job where I could walk instead of just sitting. I wouldn’t have wanted that.
What were you most worried about when you came on board?
It all went very fast. I went for an interview, and the same day, they told me I was hired. I didn’t know exactly what kind of work was awaiting me, and how big an employer they are. At first, I worked in the Swedish food market, where I updated labels and straightened up the products.
What advice would you give to someone with a health issue who is thinking about working for IKEA or is getting ready to apply?
To try, not to be scared, and send that résumé. It’s important not to be afraid to talk about it. It’s really about the agreement.
Where do you work?
I work at IKEA Brno.
What’s your position?
Press operator in the Warehouse and Logistics department.
How long have you been with IKEA?
About six years.
What do you like most about IKEA as an employer?
What I most value at IKEA is the tolerance — especially when it comes to my health status. If I go through a demanding time and my health worsens, or I have to be hospitalized, my employer always tries to accommodate and support me. I also value the corporate culture and the team. People are friendly and respectful; they don’t back-stab each other.
What about your schedule? Do you like it?
My schedule is flexible, which is what I like the best. I work a shortened schedule, and I’m always three days on and three days off. I start early in the morning, but my biorhythm has gotten used to it. On the other hand, thanks to that I’m at work just five to six hours, and then I can relax at h.ome.
How do you get along with your co-workers? What is the team like?
On the team we communicate openly and aren’t scared to give each other feedback. If I don’t like something, I can tell my supervisor and discuss everything. For example, once when there was more work than usual, he arranged for employees from an outside company to take up some of the load. Thanks to that, everything went like it was supposed to
What were you most worried about when you came on board?
I wasn’t worried about anything. I was excited to come to IKEA. I started in a job replenishing goods. But the team supported me when I did something wrong, told me immediately, and showed me how to do it, so that I’d remember. So, nobody complained if someone didn’t do something right. Generally, however, I felt I wouldn’t keep up with the pace and individual tasks, because the nature of my handicap complicated the work. Then the supervisor got my position changed, and it was excellent. Now I don’t have to think things over as much, I can organize my time and work better, and I’ve got less stress.
What advice would you give to someone with a health issue who is thinking about working for IKEA or is getting ready to apply?
Don’t be afraid. There’s a great team waiting for you. It’s all about the agreement. You shouldn’t be afraid to say what you need, and that’s important. Moreover, everybody accepts me as I am, including my illness. They know I can have it tough for a day or a longer period, but also they can tell me if something is wrong.
