KLM Royal Dutch Airlines has implemented a programme that enables cabin crew to reintegrate after a longer period of absence through virtual reality headsets.
KLM aims to lower the threshold to returning to work after long periods of absence, such as an illness or maternity leave, following a successful VR trial period.
The airline will roll out the use of VR glasses in the reintegration programme in October, walking employees through a working day step by step from handing in luggage at the crew centre to the take-off of the aircraft, the work on board and the arrival at the hotel.
The VR application is also used to investigate whether someone is ready to return to work, exploring insight into whether a colleague gets stuck in the reintegration process.
Marion Leguijt, head of cabin crew, KLM Royal Dutch Airlines, explained: “We notice that some colleagues are nervous about going back to work after not flying for a long time. At an altitude of 10,000 feet you can’t really say: “I am struggling to do this, I think I will go home a bit earlier.” With the VR glasses we lower that threshold by bringing the flying world “to the ground” in a very realistic way. At the same time, it is also a diagnostic tool: by using the glasses we can identify where colleagues are getting stuck in their reintegration. This means that we can work together with the colleague to find a solution to tackle the issue the colleague is facing. It brings technology and people together in a practical and responsible way.
"In addition to the fact that the VR glasses help to take the step to return to work earlier, it also appears that it contributes to sustainable employability. By enabling a targeted approach and gaining more self-confidence, colleagues are less likely to drop out again. The programme currently targets colleagues who work in the cabin, but KLM wants to expand the programme to make it more widely available.”