Cultivating an inclusive and equal workplace
At HUC, we are committed to cultivating an inclusive and equal workplace where colleagues feel valued and respected from the start of their journey with us. We have several initiatives to ensure we foster equality, diversity, and inclusion (EDI), creating an environment where colleagues feel comfortable and can thrive.
One key initiative is an EDI training workshop undertaken by colleagues in different positions and teams. We recently spoke with three colleagues who shared their thoughts on the training’s importance.
Alice Williams, People Advisor, said the session focused on embracing diversity and inclusion to ensure we all work harmoniously together. She learned strategies to foster diversity and inclusion, such as listening and acknowledging others, remembering we’re all unique, avoiding assumptions, and being mindful of communication. She believes the training is crucial in creating a more inclusive environment where all employees feel valued and free from discrimination.
Alice on mitigating any unconscious biases
“After completing the training session I have started to build my self-awareness to help mitigate any unconscious biases I may have. As we all have unconscious biases, I believe it is important to remain open-minded and willing to confront and address any biases that may arise.”
Max Summers, Head of Urgent and Primary Care said
“I found the session helpful in understanding factors informing diversity and inclusion, encouraging personal reflection on current practices, and examining types of bias and their impact.”
He emphasised the importance of organisations facilitating this type of learning to reflect the communities they serve, maximise engagement, and engender better decision-making, innovation, and performance.
Jessica Hewitt, NHS 111 Support Administrator and Team Leader said
“I Learned about different approaches to inclusive leadership, understanding unique perspectives, and showing commitment to supporting inclusive environments.”
She found the exploration of microaggressions particularly interesting and believes these sessions encourage understanding, respect, and better collaboration, bringing fresh ideas and innovation to the table.
We take pride in our colleagues who demonstrate a commitment to understanding the significance EDI, going above and beyond to create an environment where everyone can thrive and be their authentic selves at work.