Diversity Initiatives
Today, our commitment to diversity is stronger than ever. We regularly review our recruitment and working practices to identify the steps we need to take to continue attracting and retaining the most diverse workforce possible.
Supporting Diversity
Since 2004, we have been driving a diversity agenda across the whole Group. Having audited current practices in each country, we built a plan of global initiatives and created a global diversity agenda.
We also have a dedicated diversity intranet site that enables us to regularly share diversity success stories and local initiatives across the company.
At a global level, we support diversity by:- Providing a sound and fair working environment where staff can grow and develop
- Selecting employees according to objective, job-related criteria
- Continuously reviewing and improving our HR practices and procedures
- Identifying barriers or restrictions to diversity and taking action to remove them
- Training and continuously educating line and HR managers
- Communicating the spirit of our diversity policy to everyone within the company
- Setting up ways to measure and monitor our diversity
Our Global Initiatives
Our latest global measures include:
- A diversity agenda describing the Group’s commitments to diversity, specifically in terms of avoiding discrimination and reaching greater levels of consistency in employment practice.
- An internal communications program to raise employee awareness of diversity.
- Group level tracking to establish the proportion of women in senior management.
- Diversity performance indicators in our annual HR audit.
- Diversity is specifically addressed in the HR processes of recruitment, promotion, performance management and compensation.
- Group participation in external think-tanks (e.g.: “Race for Opportunity” in the UK, “The Platform for Professional Women” in the NL, “Different Women, Different Places Research” across Europe)
- Creation of in-house networks to improve professional opportunities for women.
- Embedding Diversity sessions in our Leadership Development programs
Our Local Initiatives
Diversity is an integral part of our business.
It has become a priority in every country and at all levels:
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Many regions have their own local diversity sites and keep diversity on the agenda at senior executive meetings.
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Many regions have actions in place to target recruitment of a more diverse workforce.
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Regions such as the Netherlands and Norway have developed initiatives to increase female leadership.
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In countries where it is permitted, local tracking is carried out of specific diverse populations such as different cultural groups, age groups and people with disabilities.
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Networks of diversity champions are now active in many regions. Our India and UK businesses have appointed diversity champions positions.
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