Objective
To foster a culture where anyone interacting with our business is valued and treated fairly, ensuring equal opportunities and promoting respect for all differences.
Background
Our Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) policy exists to address and rectify historical and systemic inequalities in the workplace and broader society. It is a proactive response to issues like racial discrimination, gender inequality, and other forms of bias that have marginalised certain groups, affecting their representation and treatment.
As part of our core value, “He tangata he tangata, he tangata!” our commitment to caring deeply about our people comes naturally to us. This policy ensures that every person who touches our organisation (team members, customers, suppliers, etc.) feels respected, valued, and supported. It fosters an environment where diverse perspectives and backgrounds are embraced, enhancing our collective creativity and effectiveness.
Definitions
- Diversity
refers to the presence of differences. This includes differences in race, ethnicity, gender, age, religion, disability, sexual orientation, socioeconomic status, education, marital status, language, and physical appearance. It also involves different perspectives, work experiences, lifestyles, and cultures.
- Equity
involves ensuring fair treatment, equality of opportunity, and fairness in access to information and resources for all. It is not about treating everyone the same way, but rather, adjusting supports based on individual needs to achieve equal outcomes.
- Inclusion
is about creating environments in which any individual or group can be and feel welcomed, respected, supported, and valued to participate fully.
Policy
Company responsibilities
- Commitment to Diversity & Equal Opportunities
- We recognize and value every individual's unique background, experiences, and perspective.
- We provide equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants regardless of race, colour, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, or any other protected status.
- We strive to attract and retain a diverse workforce through inclusive recruitment and hiring practices.
- Training, Development & Promotion of Equity
- We provide ongoing training, which includes diversity awareness, unconscious bias, and cultural competency to foster a more inclusive workplace.
- We promote equity by ensuring fair and transparent policies and procedures for compensation, performance evaluation, and career advancement.
- Safe, Respectful and Accessible Workplace
- We are committed to providing a safe and respectful workplace free from harassment, discrimination, and retaliation. We have zero tolerance for behaviour undermining our commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion.
- We strive to create an accessible and inclusive work environment for disabled team members. We provide reasonable accommodations to enable them to perform their job duties effectively and participate fully in the workplace.
- We aim to accommodate all requests for leave, rostering, or breaks based on religious requirements, though we cannot guarantee the fulfilment of every request due to operational constraints.
- Suppliers and Community
- We promote supplier diversity by partnering, if possible, with minority-owned, women-owned, and LGBTQ+-owned businesses. We believe in supporting diverse suppliers and creating economic opportunities within our communities.
- Improvement & Compliance
- We regularly assess and evaluate our DEI initiatives to identify areas for improvement and measure progress toward our goals. We welcome feedback from team members and stakeholders to help inform our efforts and drive meaningful change.
- We communicate openly and transparently about our DEI initiatives, goals, and progress. We regularly update team members and stakeholders to ensure accountability and maintain trust and transparency.
- We comply with all applicable laws and regulations related to diversity, equity, and inclusion, including equal employment opportunity laws, affirmative action requirements, and accessibility standards.
Team member responsibilities
- Show respect for all colleagues, recognising and valuing their diverse backgrounds and perspectives.
- Encourage, through your actions, an environment where all team members feel included and valued.
- Adjust communication methods to be inclusive and accessible to everyone.
- Educate yourself about a potential unconscious bias and how that might hinder your ability to be more inclusive and collaborative.
- Act as an ally to marginalised or underrepresented teammates. Listen to their experiences, offer support, and amplify their voices.
- Respect team members' preferred pronouns and gender identities. Use inclusive language and avoid making assumptions about gender, sexuality, or identity.
- Report incidents of harassment, discrimination, or bias to the senior leadership team.
