What comes to mind when you hear Equity, Inclusion and Diversity? Are these concepts primarily employed by major corporations to enhance workplace dynamics, or do they encapsulate our everyday actions within organizations of all sizes?
Allow me to define these three pivotal words. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), Equity is defined as “the absence of avoidable or remediable differences among groups of people, whether those groups are defined socially, economically, demographically or geographically”.
Inclusion, as described by Indeed UK Operations Limited, is the process of providing each member within an organization with equitable access to professional resources and opportunities. It is an important facet of corporate culture that empowers companies to support employees in expressing their authentic selves.
Inclusion is what employers and managers embrace to bring about a sense of importance and appreciation among their workforces. By promoting an Inclusive environment, companies attract top-tier talents, inspire productivity, and cultivate a culture of innovation.
Maintaining an Inclusive corporate culture ensures that employees are valued and encouraged to unleash their full potential. It also steers organizations away from discriminating against individuals based on factors like age, ethnicity, or physical capabilities. An Inclusive work environment fosters respect for all personnel, becoming the bedrock for making diversity a functional reality.
As defined by workable.com, diversity is the existence of a range of characteristics within a group of people. These attributes encompass all that sets us apart our cognitive abilities, personality traits, and the factors that comprise our identity, such as race, age, gender, religion, sexual orientation, and cultural heritage.
Now that we understand these definitions, let us now look at Equity, Inclusion and Diversity in the context of Roamtech.
Roamtech embodies diversity which is manifested in our teams. Our company’s composition includes various generations, from Generation Z to Millenial, each contributing their unique strengths to the overall growth of the company. Regarding gender balance, our staff distribution approaches a parity between males and females, with a ratio of 53% to 47%, respectively.
This achievement is a noteworthy milestone, emblematic of our adherence to the two-thirds gender rule that applies to elective public entities in Kenya. This diversity enriches our corporate culture, resulting in the exchange of knowledge and skills among teams. This synergy elevates every department of our organization, enabling Roamtech to stand as a competitive industry player.
At Roamtech, we champion open communication, urging our staff to voice their opinions through an open-door policy and anonymous surveys. This practice keeps us accountable, allowing us to gather timely feedback and take necessary action.
As you know, Inclusion, which intertwines closely with diversity, we strive to create an Inclusive workplace where each team member is valued and provided avenues to flourish. Whether through internal promotions or gender-inclusive internship initiatives, individuals are granted opportunities to prove themselves and embrace greater challenges for both personal and career growth.
Discrimination is a vocabulary that does not exist within our organization, from upper management to junior-level staff. We firmly believe in amplifying every voice, offering a platform for all to be heard.
Our practice of recognizing the Employee of the Quarter exemplifies Inclusion. This democratic process involves employee nomination creating an environment where people thrive because of inclusion and appreciation.
Equity thrives at Roamtech as we give our employees opportunities based on their unique needs and career trajectories. When it comes to promotions, we look for talents within our team first. We strive to empower all employees with the support, resources, treatment, and opportunities essential for workplace success.
Our support extends to new mothers, with provisions like flexible post-maternity schedules and a room for expressing milk, designed to evoke tranquillity.
A sense of belonging flourishes through continuous engagement and team-building activities, reinforcing our employees’ connection to the company.
Impartiality and equal treatment are cornerstones we uphold, resulting in contented and engaged employees.
Lastly, wage equity and departmental representation are paramount. Skills and capabilities matter more than positions, and all departments contribute to diverse workplace committees.
In conclusion, Roamtech is steadfast in its commitment to advancing Equity, Inclusion, and Diversity within its ranks. In an ever-evolving workspace, we embrace adaptability and recognize the value of these principles in shaping a dynamic, high-performance organization. The demand for companies valuing these concepts is strong, and while we are not yet at the pinnacle, we are undoubtedly on the right trajectory.
Felista is the Human Resource Manager at Roamtech Solutions Limited.