In our interconnected global society, promoting an inclusive workplace for individuals of diverse gender identities is emerging as a crucial tactic for business success. Organisations that champion this culture not only attract and retain exceptional talent, but also cultivate innovation, promote diversity, uphold equality, and enhance their overall business performance.
Defining the organisation’s vision and core values is the initial key to fostering an inclusive culture. It’s essential to clearly express a commitment to diversity and inclusion as well. A shared vision, when effectively communicated, promotes a strong sense of belonging, ensuring that all employees feel valued, respected, and empowered to excel.
Education and training form the bedrock of understanding the importance of inclusion. Customised training initiatives and sensitisation programmes can help dispel unconscious biases, challenge stereotypes, and foster a more inclusive mindset among leaders and employees. These training modules should be designed to promote respectful communication and encourage allyship. They should also educate employees about the benefits of a diverse and inclusive workforce.
Creating a safe and supportive environment is another critical element in cultivating a culture of belonging, which involves developing robust policies that safeguard employees from discrimination based on their gender identity. It also includes providing resources and support for employees navigating the challenges related to their gender identity.
Celebrating and leveraging diversity is an effective strategy to foster a culture of belonging. This can be achieved through events and initiatives that highlight and celebrate the diverse experiences and perspectives of employees. Recognising and valuing diversity helps to create a more inclusive and vibrant workplace, where differences are celebrated.
Chief Operating Officer
South Asia
VFS Global
Feedback is essential for fostering inclusion and belonging. By actively seeking and acting on feedback, organisations gain valuable insights into employee experiences, identify areas for improvement, and develop effective solutions. Encouraging open communication ensures that every voice is heard and valued. Despite taking these crucial steps, maintaining a culture of belonging for all gender identities requires continuous effort, commitment, and vigilance from all levels of the organisation. To sustain this culture, organisations must regularly evaluate their policies and practices, stay informed about evolving issues related to gender diversity, and ensure that their commitment to inclusion and belonging is a deeply ingrained value.
At VFS Global, we believe in building fellowship of champions. Such a workplace fosters a positive culture of collaboration, innovation, and excellence. It also helps to attract and retain talented and diverse staff, enhance customer satisfaction, and achieve organisational goals.
In 2023, we achieved several milestones in our journey towards this direction:
- Through our ongoing strategic initiatives aimed at nurturing women talent, we’ve maintained a healthy gender diversity ratio. We proudly announce that women now make up 53% of our global team of professionals.
- We strengthened our Diversity Equity & Inclusion policy to ensure equal opportunity in employment for a wider range of candidates from diverse backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives. This conscious effort enables us to build a workforce that mirrors the communities we serve.
- In partnership with People First, a leading advocate for Diversity & Inclusion, we developed an exclusive programme to promote allyship for gender balance. This initiative fosters support and advocacy for women employees.
- We expanded our DEI ethos into VFS Global community outreach initiatives, aligning with our commitment to inclusion through corporate social responsibility and VFS Global Academy programmes.
It is a journey that demands commitment, effort, and continuous learning from everyone within the organisation. The path may be challenging, but the rewards – a more inclusive, diverse, and successful team – are undoubtedly worth the effort. For us, it’s about creating a workplace that values diversity, fosters innovation, and drives business success.
