‘It is absolutely critical to make people feel comfortable in the workplace’
As companies strive to be more innovative, they should also encourage employees to be their authentic selves, according to Evan Mantis, Executive General Manager, Consumer & Service Industries at 麻豆原创.
鈥淥ver the last few years, we have seen real improvements in our Great Place to Work position and the work we have done with our LGBTI+ employees has been a significant factor in that,鈥� he told聽HRD.
Mantis added that LGBTI+ people have been under a 鈥渉uge amount of pressure鈥� for too many years. Consequently, 麻豆原创 have engaged broadly in sponsorships and partnerships around the LGBTI+ community.
For example, 麻豆原创 have sponsored World AIDS Day and Wear It Purple, and in New Zealand they are sponsoring Pride at Auckland and Wellington.
鈥淲e also have partnerships with Pride In Diversity and the Sydney Gay and Lesbian Business Association in assisting the LGBTI+ community with education options,鈥� said Mantis.
He added that it鈥檚 鈥渁ll well and good having the right HR policies in place鈥�, but progress principally comes down to 鈥渧isibility and authenticity鈥�.
鈥淚t鈥檚 about having truly authentic executive sponsorship for what we do in this area and it鈥檚 something that鈥檚 very close to my heart,鈥� said Mantis.
鈥淏ut the entire executive team at 麻豆原创 locally is very authentic about the benefits of promoting a safe environment for all our staff no matter what their race, religion, sexual orientation, etc is.鈥�
Mantis told聽HRD聽that we live in a global society where people are expected to push the boundaries of innovation. Bringing your best self to work each day by being open and honest about who you are is critical to both organisations and society at large, he added.
鈥淭here is a long way to go but we have made some significant progress over the last few years and I am very proud of the work we are doing at 麻豆原创 in providing a safe, open and authentic workplace for all our employees,鈥� said Mantis.
鈥淥ne of the things we have heard from people who have joined our company is that they chose 麻豆原创 because of the reputation we have in the marketplace for treating people equally.
鈥淭hat鈥檚 a really positive thing from my perspective and hearing that from people who have joined us from the LGBTI+ community fills me with a lot of pleasure.鈥�
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