Post Office was delighted to be announced as the winner of the Diversity and Inclusion at last night’s (25th January) Employee Engagement Awards.
The awards, in association with People Insight, are the first and only global awards dedicated to employee engagement. They span 18 categories, covering areas such as unsung heroes to reward and recognition.
In 2017, Post Office was recognised as a Disability Confident Leader and a Times Top 50 Employer for Women – and this latest award means the business is also formally acknowledged as an organisation that puts diversity and inclusion at the heart of its business, demonstrating an all-round strategy for support and help for all – whether that’s women, people from BAME backgrounds, the LGBT+ community, those with a disability or other minorities.
It is fitting recognition, given the Post Office has done much over the last year to ensure that inclusivity is part of the very DNA of the organisation, in turn fostering and promoting a truly supportive culture.
This has been achieved by:
continuing to grow the number and breadth of our employee-driven diversity networks. These currently include Women in Leadership, BAME, Be You (to support disability, mental health and wellbeing in the workplace), Prism (an LGBT+ network) and Return to Work, for those coming back to the workplace after a period of absence, be that following maternity leave or due to sickness.;
introducing a business wide diversity and inclusion network to bring all of these together;
reviewing policies and procedures to ensure they are inclusive;
constantly communicating with the business with regards to Diversity and Inclusion, sharing stories and promoting our values and behaviours and, crucially;
obtaining authentic sponsorship from the top of the organisation.
Other initiatives across the organisation include the Mental Health First Aid Training Programme, which is providing training for colleagues who would like to provide support in the workplace as Mental Health First Aiders. Mental Health First Aid is the immediate help given to someone experiencing mental distress; it is not about individuals learning to be therapists but about enabling them to identify, recognise and assist colleagues who are suffering from mental health problems and guide them towards appropriate help.
Amber Kelly, Engagement, Talent and Learning Director at Post Office said:
“Diversity and Inclusion is at the very heart of our business. We are committed to promoting a working environment where everyone feels comfortable to bring their true selves to work and it’s wonderful that this commitment has been recognised through this award!
“2017 was a wonderful year for Diversity and Inclusion at the Post Office – we were recognised as a Disability Confident Leader and a Times Top 50 Employer for Women. And this award is a great start to what promises to be another exciting year for Diversity and Inclusion at the Post Office.”
Photo by Post Office – UK
