SL Controls has launched its first Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion policy, reinforcing our commitment to nurturing a workplace environment that promotes diversity, equity, and inclusion. The aim of the policy is to create an open and inclusive culture where everyone feels valued.
Shauna Ryan, SL Controls Director of People and Culture, said: “Diversity, equity, and inclusion are central to how we work at SL Controls – they are values that are core parts of our ethos. The publication of our new Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Policy documents and formalises our commitment, priorities, and expectations.
“In the past, the focus would have been on equality, as opposed to equity. While equality, treating everyone the same, certainly plays an important role, shifting our lens to equity is a move that enhances our ability to do more. Equity takes into account the ways in which we are all unique, and we therefore adjust our treatment according to the individual needs of the person. In an equitable world, the end result is equal for all, as opposed to the treatment or support being equal.
“For me, diversity, equity, and inclusion are not topics to be discussed sporadically throughout the year. Instead, it’s about calling out our commitment to them every day. Also, it’s not always about the big things. The big things are important, but it’s about the little things as well.”
Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Initiatives
The launch of SL Controls Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Policy is one of a series of recent initiatives in this area. For example, we provided staff with pronoun training last month as part of Pride Month. Shauna said the feedback on that training was great: “People said they found the training valuable as they didn’t know much about the topic, but they really wanted to learn.
“As a society, we are generally more aware and accepting with a greater understanding and empathy for people in diverse groups. Arguably we are all in diverse groups. But most of us are also on a journey with many of these topics, so education is beneficial.”
Ensuring Everyone Feels Valued and Included
Shauna added that another key priority in launching the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Policy is to ensure everyone in the company feels included and valued.
“We are all in diverse groups but particularly for those people who feel in a minority, highlighting and emphasizing our approach to diversity, equity, and inclusion is important. It could be women in engineering, for example, as there are so few of them. It could be someone from a different country, from a different socio-economic background than the majority, someone with a neurodiversity like dyslexia. It’s important that all of those people – everyone – feel included and valued.
“And it is important to remind everybody else to include and value others. As a company, we are in a good place with a very accepting team. But we all have to remain continuously aware.
“When I think about it, the world has changed so much, and we have come so far in terms of acceptance in this country. For the current generation of workers, diversity, equity, and inclusion are important topics to focus on but when our children enter the workforce in the future, I don’t think they will be talking about them as much because it will be so natural. I find it so encouraging and exciting seeing where it is going.”
