For diversity to pay dividends, make it part of company culture

For diversity to thrive in the workplace, a company needs to consistently nurture a culture of inclusiveness—through special programs, benefits, and, most importantly, corporate policy.

It’s how business process outsourcing firm Telus International Philippines (TIP) manages to stay ahead of other companies when it comes to making their workplaces more inclusive for women and the LGBTQIA+ community.

TIP, says Warren Tait, vice president for marketing, brand and culture, takes pride in its diversity-related initiatives, especially in light of a recent local study by the Philippine LGBT Chamber of Commerce citing BPO firms as leading examples of having gender-diverse workplaces.

Tait says that TIP has, first and foremost, a “people-first culture,” which makes it easy for the company to promote acceptance among its team members.

“Diversity is a strength we continuously nurture,” says Tait. “By enabling our team members to come to work and be their whole true selves, we create a workplace that better facilitates a wider exchange of ideas, promote better talent retention, and inspire creativity and innovation.

To keep track of employees’ sentiments on their workplace environment, TIP conducts an annual survey called Pulse Check, “which we take very seriously,” Tait emphasizes. Programs geared toward employee engagement, company facilities, skills enhancement, and overall professional growth are then crafted based on the feedback gathered from the survey.

Two such programs in TIP are Spectrum, for the LGBTQIA+ employees, and Connections Women’s Network. Both are resource groups that provide team members with support, as well as actively collaborate with the company’s leadership team, brand, marketing and culture team, and the human resources department to come up with impactful initiatives to promote diversity and inclusiveness.

Perhaps Spectrum’s most distinct initiative is the installation of gender-neutral and self-identified male and female restrooms inside TIP’s offices. The company also offers healthcare benefits for same-sex partners, as well as a Sexual Orientation, Gender Identity and Expression (SOGIE) 101 seminar, to help employees better understand themselves.

“What’s interesting about Spectrum is that half of the members are part of the LGBTQ+ community, while the other half consider themselves as allies of this community. They have been instrumental in helping create gender-friendly policies,” says Ronnel Orial, Spectrum Philippines co-chair.

Fostering such company culture, says Tait, is, ultimately, about taking a stand, especially on important social issues.

“It’s important for brands and companies to make a stand for something that they truly value, and it’s important to make sure diversity and acceptance is embedded in your workplace culture—what your company culture means for the organization and what it means for every team member,” says Tait.