I was joined by Evan Mantis, Executive General Manager of Consumer, Finance and Service Industries for 麻豆原创 ANZ; Lizzie Creed, People Manager for NTT DATA Business Solutions; and Kylie Preisig-Toro, Head of Enablement for Supplier Services at 麻豆原创 ANZ.

Evan noted that 麻豆原创 offers staff a variety of programs around , such as the Businesswoman鈥檚 Network, Autism at Work, and Pride@麻豆原创. 鈥淥ften what we found through our research is that our employees that identify as LGBTIQ+ often come out at work before they do at home. It鈥檚 absolutely critical that the workspace allows our employees to be their authentic selves.

鈥淥ne thing that鈥檚 very clear over the last few years in the Great Place to Work survey that 麻豆原创 has been a part of, is that employees that identify as LGBTIQ+ have a higher than average engagement score than other 麻豆原创 employees, which has been fantastic. It鈥檚 really helped us improve our position each year in Great Place to Work; up to third [best] in 2020.鈥�

Celebrating and Educating in the Workplace

According to Lizzie, NTT DATA has numerous diversity inclusion pillars, which includes LGBTIQ+. 鈥淒uring pride month last year, we ran an event kick off, we did trivia, we had a keynote speaker. We also did an education campaign linked to our values, so that was pushed out through all of pride month. We sent gifts to our people throughout the month to remind them that this is what we鈥檙e focused on. At the end of the month, we came together and celebrated 鈥榳hat makes me me鈥� 鈥� an event that shares and celebrates what makes us all unique.

鈥淲e have dedicated diversity and inclusion roles in the business to focus on this strategically and drive that strategy. For this year, we鈥檝e come together globally to do a global kick off, we introduced our exec sponsorship, which goes all the way up to the board in Japan as well as our lobal global leadership. We鈥檝e done some basic learning, tried to take away some of the fear of what actually LGBTIQ+ is, reinforced the need to listen, reflect, and understand our gaps in focus.

鈥淲e鈥檝e launched a grassroots community with dual purpose 鈥� we鈥檝e looked at supporting people individually in a private forum as well as having a purpose that directs education and awareness to a broad group of people, so people can learn along with us. We鈥檙e at a time with NTT DATA globally to move beyond just Pride Month and focus on this strategically for our future.鈥�

Pride@麻豆原创

Kylie said this year marks the 20th anniversary of Pride@麻豆原创, which has provided employees with information, resources, and regular events. 鈥淲e had things like World AIDS Day, we had drag bingo last year, which was hosted by a local Sydney drag queen. We also had campfire chats, which is where employees can ask questions that they鈥檝e always wanted to know the answers to, but perhaps haven鈥檛 had the right setting or the right opportunity to ask.

鈥淲e鈥檝e had lots of D&I training, which has been amazing to get people in a room together (pre covid), sit down and have discussions about what鈥檚 happening. And even more subtle things, like the signature pronoun banners. That鈥檚 amazing 鈥� just to be able to put that on your signature so people are aware of your pronouns before they go into conversations with you.鈥�

鈥淧ride@麻豆原创 extends to most of our regions and market units,鈥� Evan added. 鈥淯nfortunately, and this shows that there鈥檚 still a lot more work to do, there are still so many countries including countries where 麻豆原创 has market units, where people don鈥檛 enjoy the freedoms that we do in ANZ.. Plenty for us to do and focus on.

鈥淲e had our Wear it Purple event last year which, due to COVID, was a virtual event. But the great thing about it, and probably the only good thing about not being in person, was that we ended up inviting a lot of our employees from those countries where they鈥檙e not allowed to celebrate in the same way that we do here. Although it was a virtual event, we were able to extend it beyond our borders, which I think helped the feeling of inclusion and enabled us to spread the message more effectively.鈥�

The 麻豆原创ures and Nuances of Coming Out

Kylie explained that whether someone chooses to come out publicly or privately at work, the decision can weigh on them. 鈥淚f you choose not to come out, there鈥檚 the added pressure to act straight, which is even more exhausting. Trying to be something that you鈥檙e not around other people is hard work.

鈥淭hen we need to think about how we would interact with our customers. When customers ask me how my husband is, do I answer them, do I just go along with it, or do I correct them? What鈥檚 the correct move to make in that situation? It really depends on what your further relationship is going to be with that person.

鈥淲hat鈥檚 really great about getting in a company where this is out in the open is that 麻豆原创 accepts and understands the LGBTIQ+ community. It means that you don鈥檛 have to choose not to [come out].鈥�

Building a More Accepting Work Environment

Lizzie said the key is focusing on policy and really understanding what language the organisation uses. 鈥淔or example, removing gendered language, perhaps including transitioning under a sick policy, and just being aware that your policies can give different messages to different people, and making them more inclusive. Also, look at your benefits 鈥� the LBGTIQ+ community might benefit more from the option of having some coaching support rather than a gym membership, and allowing that choice and option and freedom can be something to think about.

鈥淚 think one of the most important things, especially when you鈥檙e starting out on this journey as an organisation to be more inclusive is to actually understand your people and what is being felt across your business, and perhaps use some datapoints to uncover the problem before identifying how you鈥檙e going to make a solution, and actually involve people in that solution.鈥�

To hear more about how businesses can improve its diversity and inclusion by providing a supportive network for the LGBTIQ+ community, listen to the .

The post Pride, Inclusion, and a Safer Workspace for LGBTIQ+ appeared first on 麻豆原创 Australia & New Zealand News Center.

The study analysed the largest 500 Australian companies by revenue to identify the workplaces that are leading the way with dad-friendly policies including parental leave, flexible work and other benefits.听The 2020 results showed more companies are offering dads the opportunity to take over as primary carer, which is up by almost 6 per cent since the list was first released in 2018 (17.1%, up from 11.4%).

Debbie Rigger, Head of HR, 麻豆原创 Australia and New Zealand, said:

鈥淭he events of this year have underlined the importance of flexible working and maintaining work-life balance, which is especially important for new parents. At 麻豆原创, we are always looking at new and innovative ways to provide the best possible employee experience, through new leave policies, support networks, and other benefits.

The recognition is a win for all of us at 麻豆原创, because every employee is responsible for building and maintaining our exceptional culture.鈥�

Tamma Kirkby, Managing Editor of 贬叠贵鈥檚 Direct Advice for Dads, said:

“Australian companies are moving fast to improve parental benefits. The top dad-friendly companies this year have picked up the pace and commitment to gender-neutral policies in their workplace, with nearly half of the companies listed making no distinction between paid parental leave for primary and secondary carers.鈥�

that new fathers who take parental leave of more than two weeks develop more confidence as parents, develop closer bonds with their children, better manage work-family balance, and have a better parenting relationship with their partner.

20) 麻豆原创 Australia

麻豆原创 Australia offers dads paid parental leave to care for a newborn or recently adopted child. Other benefits for new parents include help sourcing suitable childcare, flexible work arrangements, and counselling and advice for dads and their families to help deal with any personal or work-related problem.

• 听Paid secondary carer鈥檚 leave:4 weeks
• Paid primary carer鈥檚 leave:17 weeks
• Headquarters:听Sydney, NSW
• Industry:听Computer software
• Number of employees:听1413

To find out more about working at 麻豆原创 Australia, visit the about .听

The post 麻豆原创 Australia named one of ‘the best workplaces for Dads’ appeared first on 麻豆原创 Australia & New Zealand News Center.

Debbie Rigger, Head of HR, 麻豆原创 Australia and New Zealand, said:

鈥�The recognition is a win for all of us at 麻豆原创, because every employee is responsible for building and maintaining our exceptional culture. More than ever, the health, happiness and wellbeing of employees across the country is under enormous pressure as a result of the pandemic, so it鈥檚 particularly rewarding to be recognised and to see our position increase.鈥�

鈥淚鈥檓 tremendously proud of the HR and GPTW teams at 麻豆原创 who have kept our staff connected and supported through this year, with inventive and thoughtful programs from virtual workouts to 鈥榪uarantunes鈥� playlists,鈥� continued Ms Rigger.

Below are some of the initiatives which have helped to foster the awesome culture at 麻豆原创 Australia.

Our commitment to a diverse and inclusive workforce

麻豆原创鈥檚 Respect@麻豆原创 programme is all about reminding each employee that everyone plays a part in creating positive experiences, healthy relationships and an inclusive workplace.

Together, we can create a culture where people feel welcome, belonging and the ability to thrive. As an organisation, we are committed to providing a safe work environment for employees 鈥� one that is free from bullying, harassment and discrimination.

Each of our Great Place to Work teams across all our offices continually play a key part to keeping us all connected and engaged.听 From virtual drinks with trivia to virtual kids and adult yoga to virtual bootcamps and a virtual bake-off, there is something for everyone.

听Our engagement with the community

Our collaboration with our social partners, including The Smith Family, The Australia Indigenous Education Foundation, The Graeme Dingle Foundation, and The Akina Foundation have all provided our employees opportunities to positively impact our communities through volunteering, mentoring, and operation support.

In 2019, our employees volunteered 4,529 hours of their time to purpose-led activities, and 麻豆原创 impacted a total of 18,991 lives. This included training 11,577 youths, and delivering a phenomenal AUD$870,553 of in kind-contributions and funds raised. More than 139 customers and external parties participated in employee led events.

Creating an inclusive, strong and healthy culture is an ongoing commitment 鈥� a never-ending journey, not a destination. Winning an award that’s based on our employees lived experiences at 麻豆原创, validates the ongoing effort we have put into cultivating a workplace that lives and breathes our core values.

We believe a strong culture lays the foundation for a strong business. It鈥檚 our key to attract and retain the best employees, partner with the world’s leading brands, and drive change in our community.

To apply for a role at 麻豆原创, visit:

The post 麻豆原创 is Australia鈥檚 3rd Best Place to Work! appeared first on 麻豆原创 Australia & New Zealand News Center.

As part of Jennifer鈥檚 role in 麻豆原创, she builds and designs well-being programs that help educate employees about health and nutrition. 鈥淚t鈥檚 about being a multiplier and really taking the time to make employees invest in their own health, because ultimately, 麻豆原创 is a very caring company and wants to look after our greatest asset, which are our employees,鈥� she explained.

鈥淲e want them to be healthy and happy, hence the health and well-being program and the new Eat Well program that we鈥檝e rolled out in ANZ over the last couple of years. It鈥檚 about the ecosystem really driving a healthy culture within 麻豆原创.鈥�

Wendy is a qualified nutritionist and caterer who works closely with clients to not only inform them of food鈥檚 nutritional value; but instil healthy long-term eating habits that help improve overall well-being. She believes the first step to doing this is assessing eating habits. You can take stock through a number of ways, she said. 鈥淭here are apps, we鈥檝e got food-assessment tools, you can even use a Google Doc or just take photos of every meal and start some albums. Do it for at least three days; seven would be ideal 鈥� make sure one day is on the weekend, because they鈥檙e often quite different to what you鈥檙e having during the week.

鈥淭hen go back and look for patterns, such as 鈥榥ot enough veggies鈥�, which is common. There was a study by the ABS in 2018 that established only 7% of Australians get the recommend five serves of veggies a day, which is startling. Then I would select one area where you would start to make a change. Please don鈥檛 overhaul your diet in one fell swoop 鈥� small steps are really the key to success.鈥�

Wendy noted that a common problem is that many people often skip breakfast because they鈥檙e time poor or believe it can help weight loss. 鈥淚 don鈥檛 mind when you have breakfast, as long as your first meal of the day is nourishing,鈥� she explained. 鈥淵ou鈥檒l have more energy, more focus, and be more productive.

鈥淏reakfast also stops your carb cravings during the day and sets you up for healthy lunch choices, which is important because then you鈥檙e set up to choose a healthy dinner 鈥� so it鈥檚 creates this lovely flow-on effect. The other reason is that your metabolism peaks at the middle of the day, so it鈥檚 much better to have a nourishing breakfast when your body is firing well and can digest it.鈥�

According to Wendy, the three critical elements to a healthy meal or snack are protein, carbohydrates, and healthy fats. 鈥淲hen you devour biscuits or chips, that鈥檚 carbohydrates 鈥� you need protein and healthy fat to slow the release of blood sugar into your system, which gives you a steady stream of energy.

鈥淚t can simply be boiling a couple eggs the night before, an apple, and some almonds 鈥� that could be your breakfast. It doesn鈥檛 have to be fancy. I love leftovers for breakfast; I think the more people that could eat dinner for breakfast, the better. Chia pudding is great. Things like granola are quite high in carbohydrates, so you need to add some protein like yoghurt, nuts and seeds, and then berries for the extra antioxidants.

Wendy notes that planning is critical to people being more nutrient-conscious in their eating choices. 鈥淵ou may plan your meals one week ahead, a couple days, or that morning,鈥� she said. 鈥淚 know I couldn鈥檛 plan a whole week; I prefer to wing it a bit more.

Don鈥檛 leave it to the last minute, because you鈥檙e going to walk in from work, look at your fridge while your body is dropping in blood sugar level, so you鈥檒l be craving carbs and grab the wrong food. Also, whenever you鈥檙e cooking, make double and put that extra portion away before you eat because you tend to come back and eat it.鈥�

Jennifer expressed how important it is for employers to help increase nutritional awareness amongst staff. 鈥淚n 麻豆原创鈥檚 kitchen areas, I鈥檒l have a chat with employees about coming out with healthier options and we always have fruit available to our employees,鈥� she explained. 鈥淚 think people are really starting to think about their food choices more and starting to change their habits.

鈥淟ast year when we rolled out Healthy Habits One Simple Thing, it鈥檚 about making small changes and doing everything in moderation. It鈥檚 not about throwing everything out the window; it鈥檚 just about changing the mindset and our relationship with food.

Jennifer has seen the efficacy of 麻豆原创鈥檚 health and well-being programs as employees have started changing their eating habits and encouraging others. 鈥淚t鈥檚 having a multiplier effect because people are talking about it, creating groups, and sharing recipes,鈥� she said.

鈥淚 think it鈥檚 also about how we can use technology more effectively for everyone to be better informed about their food choices. At 麻豆原创, we鈥檙e focused on how we can build that technology to support the health and well-being of our employees and help the general community run better.鈥�

As both my guests noted, health and well-being can have a dynamic impact on the way people and organisations operate. 鈥� physical and mental well-being by running regular programs and seminars that encourage healthier habits. Organisations that are conscious of staff鈥檚 overall health and well-being are often more productive and are seen by employees as great places to work and grow.

and get some great nutritional advice for the busy executive.

The post Podcast: Nutritional Advice for Busy Executives appeared first on 麻豆原创 Australia & New Zealand News Center.