‘We’re listening’: how Glanbia is empowering its people to build a culture of inclusion
Glanbia’s Employee Resource Groups are creating a more socially sustainable, resilient organization for the future by ensuring every voice is heard
What does it take to feel that you belong at work? Maybe it’s being made to feel wholeheartedly welcome. That your opinion and contribution count as much as the next person’s. Or that you’ll be respected not just for what you can do for the people around you, but for who you are.
There’s sound evidence to show that a diverse, inclusive workplace helps a company perform better (1) – both financially and by attracting the best talent. A varied workforce that reflects your consumers, customers and communities keeps you in touch with the people you serve. And a business with different viewpoints, particularly at senior level, is less likely to do things a certain way just because that’s how they’ve always been done.
Employee-led and corporate change go hand in hand
Historically, underrepresented groups with shared characteristics or life experiences around race, gender, sexual orientation and more have found it harder to succeed, with less access to professional opportunities. Glanbia has a robust DE&I policy with a framework for Employee Resource Groups (ERGs) to ensure that all employees, particularly from these groups, can network, bring their true selves to work and thrive. The groups play a valuable role in providing a vehicle for Glanbia to listen to employee voices and to address the needs and barriers their members may face.
Glanbia’s first ERG – Network of Women (NOW) – was born in 2021. “I think it’s hugely important,” says Siobhán Talbot, Group MC. “The case for diversity is so well made and at a most basic level it is gender diversity. Fifty percent of the population is female, and we all know that diversity of thought, diversity of opinion, diversity of experience is huge. That’s the anvil that you get great debate from, and it’s the anvil that you get great outcomes from.”
“We’re starting to make good progress on our female diversity,” she says. “From Board level and senior managers right through the organisation.”
“NOW is a pioneering network, forging the way not only for gender diversity, but other diversity and inclusion initiatives and networks in the future,” says Ronak Mashru, General Manager, GPN, UK & Ireland.
NOW blazed the trail for two more ERGs last year – Glanbia’s LGBTQIA+ network True Colours, and the multicultural network Mosaic. More than 700 employees across the organisation are now involved in an ERG. ERGs aren’t about highlighting one community’s needs over another but are about sharing challenges and developing career-related strategies through education, conversation, mentorship and professional development.
“I think women in the organisation have different pressures sometimes than men do. It's not about excluding men, because there are many who are very supportive of us. But women can relate to each other, and empathise with each other," says Niamh Kelly, Chief Product Officer, Dairy Strategy, Glanbia Nutritionals.
The groups amplify the voices of the underrepresented and can potentially redress some of the imbalances of the past, says Group Chairman Donard Gaynor: “Advocating within the company for the women’s network and empowerment around women will fix maybe issues from the past with regard to the representation of women. I’m totally behind the NOW ERG,” he says.
ERGs are also the chance for everyone to get creative, share what matters and have some fun. For last year’s Pride, Glanbia’s True Colours hosted a ‘Pride Parade’, a children’s art competition which garnered some amazing entries, and an inspirational webinar featuring Belton Flournoy. Belton shared his story of growing up as a black, gay man in the USA and opened everyone’s eyes to the barriers many feel and face in the workplace – and how to be any ally in helping tear those barriers down.
Safe spaces for employees to be themselves
To mark Hispanic Heritage Month last autumn, Mosaic showcased what the celebration means to Glanbia’s Hispanic community. Christiane Brocky, VP & GM Sports Nutrition, introduced herself as a proud Latina of Honduran descent and urged colleagues to immerse themselves in everything the Hispanic culture has to offer. “It’s the opportunity for us to celebrate the many contributions of the Hispanic community,” she says, “but it’s also an opportunity for us to celebrate its culture, its food, its beliefs, its history.”
She highlighted how inclusion isn’t about ‘fitting in’, but about celebrating difference. “I encourage you to be proud of the change that you can drive by using your voice and educating and being an advocate for the Hispanic community,” she said. “In the words of actress America Ferrera: ‘Your identity is your superpower. Be proud of who you are and where you came from!’”
Each year, Glanbia creates an inclusion index based on the answers employees give to questions about their sense of belonging and of equal opportunity. The index scores for 2022 suggest that the listening approach of ERGs combined with other progressive policies are having a positive impact. The inclusion index score for 2022 improved for all parts of the organisation and increased by 2.5 points.
‘Together We Are More’ is a part of Glanbia’s DE&I vision that the business truly stands by. The richer the mix of people working at all levels, and the more included they feel, the more they can achieve.
Visit 'Our People' section of our website to find out more.
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