One Day That Changes Perspectives: How Real Change Is Born in the Labour Market

What happens when a person facing challenges in the labour market becomes a colleague for a day? Experiences from DUOday in Lithuania, Sweden and Finland show that such encounters can change not only participants’ perspectives, but also employers’ attitudes towards work and inclusion.

Every year, hundreds of people with disabilities become colleagues for a day – in real workplaces, from offices to shops, warehouses or production lines. They take part in meetings, observe their mentor at work, go for coffee breaks, and see up close what daily work routines actually look like.

This is job shadowing, or DUOday. At first glance, it is just one day. However, it brings together people whose paths would not normally cross – those searching for their place and those already employed.

This initiative takes place in many European countries, each adapting it in its own way. What truly works? How can the initiative be strengthened? What can we learn from one another? Organizations from Lithuania, Sweden and Finland joined forces in the Nordplus project “DUOday Connect” to explore these questions. The project aimed to share experiences on strengthening cooperation networks and turning one-day encounters into long-term change.

More than an experience

For people with disabilities, DUOday is often the first real encounter with the world of work. Participants frequently share that before this day, it was difficult even to imagine themselves in a work environment. Job shadowing allows them to experience work processes, ask questions, understand their strengths and perhaps also their challenges. It boosts self-confidence, provides courage, and helps plan the future – for example, choosing a more specific career path or simply believing that employment is achievable.

The project and partner meetings also encouraged discussions of more complex questions. Partners debated whether one day is truly enough to create lasting change. DUOday experiences are often very positive – participants feel accepted and successful, yet the next day they return to the same situation of unemployment. Does such an experience risk becoming only a brief promise, highlighting even more the gap between opportunities and reality?

For this reason, partners agreed that DUOday should not remain a one-day initiative. Its greatest value emerges when there is continuity afterward – ongoing contact with employers, additional opportunities for participants, and real steps towards employment.

Benefits for organizations

This project became an opportunity for organizations to reassess how they implement the DUOday initiative. Meetings in different countries, online sessions and practical visits made it possible to see how the same job shadowing idea can be applied differently – and what is worth adopting.

One of the clearest insights is that DUOday is a simple yet highly effective way to establish first contact with employers. Organizations note that even employers who had not previously engaged with inclusion are willing to participate in a short, clearly defined experience. It becomes a safe first step for both sides.

Partners shared not only success stories but also very practical insights – how to communicate with employers, how to prepare participants, and how to organize the day so it benefits everyone involved.

An important outcome of the project was increased collaboration. Some organizations established new connections within their countries, involved more partners in initiatives, and international dialogue encouraged them to experiment with new approaches more confidently.

Employers: from hesitation to hiring decisions

For employers, DUOday is often the first direct encounter with people with disabilities in a work context. They report that this single day helps break the ice and better understand individuals, their needs and their potential. Often, firsthand experience dispels stereotypes and assumptions – what once seemed challenging turns out to be easy to address. Meeting participants allows company representatives to see beyond the disability and recognize a person with abilities, motivation and potential. It becomes clear that large investments are not necessary – small workplace adjustments and proper support are often enough.

During an international meeting, Vilma Suchockienė, People and Culture Director at “Volvo Lietuva,” shared that the initiative contributed to the decision to hire an employee with a disability:
“DUOday experience helps us get to know diverse people better, and once we know them, we gain more confidence to make the decision to employ a person with a disability. This initiative allows us to share, learn and grow together,” she said.

International experience: insights from meeting one another

One of the most important aspects of the project was the opportunity to see how DUOday works in different contexts.

“The DuoDay Connect project has helped us see what things are already working in Finland when it comes to organizing the Job Shadow Day. The best part of the project has been sharing ideas and seeing new perspectives. The project has made us think about how to develop our own Job Shadow Day and has given us perspectives on it. International cooperation is valuable, especially since in Finland the day is practically implemented by only a couple of people at the Vates Foundation.”, says Linda Lempiö from the Vates Foundation.

Swedish representatives shared similar views. “The DuoDay Connect project has helped us see what things are already working in Finland when it comes to organizing the Job Shadow Day. The best part of the project has been sharing ideas and seeing new perspectives. The project has made us think about how to develop our own Job Shadow Day and has given us perspectives on it. International cooperation is valuable, especially since in Finland the day is practically implemented by only a couple of people at the Vates Foundation.”- says Annette Jönnervik Holmblad.

“It was interesting to learn how job shadowing in other countries fits into the broader system of supported employment services. We realized we can not only learn from partners but also share our own experience and inspire others. Each partner gained something from this collaboration – ideas on approaching employers, communication insights, or methods of working with clients. I have no doubt this will inspire even better initiatives in the future,” shares Jurgita Kuprytė, Director of SOPA.

More than just one day

Although DUOday lasts only one day, its impact does not end there.

It changes perspectives – of people with disabilities, professionals and employers alike. The initiative creates new connections and encourages more open conversations about inclusion in the labour market.

Most importantly, it shows that change does not begin with complex strategies, but with a simple decision to spend a day together – in a workplace where you may never have imagined yourself before.