nib New Zealand has recently received two workplace inclusivity citations: the Rainbow Tick accreditation, which recognises the company’s efforts for LGBTTQIA+ employees and allies, and the Accessibility Tick, which reflects the steps taken to overcome accessibility barriers for employees, customers and visitors.
To gain Rainbow Tick accreditation, a workplace is evaluated on five standards: policies, employee training, employee engagement and support, external engagement and monitoring.
Rob Hennin, nib New Zealand CEO, said the company has been continually improving its internal policies and procedures to meet the Rainbow Tick standards over the past two years.
“To receive a Rainbow Tick accreditation is no small task, we listened to our employees made meaningful and continual changes to our workplace policies and practices to amplify the voices and experiences of our LGBTTQIA+ employees,” he said.
“nib is an organisation with a big heart and this is reflected in the work they’re doing to ensure that people from LGBTTQIA+ communities can bring their whole selves to work,” said Rainbow Tick programme manager, José Taiapa “This kind of inclusivity is so important, understanding that there are still many people out there that don’t feel comfortable to express their sexual orientation or gender identity at work.”
According to Phil Turner, managing director of Accessibility Tick, the accessibility journey for organisations are a long-term commitment and the accreditation is a great first step for nib.
“nib should be proud of the commitment and action plan they have made for disability inclusion and accessibility. It shows nib is an organisation that embodies diversity and inclusion, committed to their people and the 24% of New Zealanders who are disabled,” Turner said.
“The work we’re doing in the diversity and inclusion space isn’t a tick of the box practice, it’s cultural change that is embedded in our everyday practices and conversations and filtered from the top down,” Hennin said. “We still have a way to go, but I truly believe the journey to receive both the Rainbow Tick and Accessibility Tick has helped to lay the foundation for greater acceptance, understanding and support of our people and their diverse backgrounds across the nib group.”
