Embracing Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion at BEST

By Nalini McIntosh CPHR, CEC

As Chief People and Culture Officer at BEST, I am thrilled to highlight our strong commitment to fostering a culture of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI). We believe that diversity is not just a buzzword but a fundamental value that drives our success as a company. In this article, I would like to shed light on our DEI policy and the principles that guide us in creating a fair, healthy, and high-performing organization.

Defining Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

BEST has adopted the definitions established by the Centre for Global Inclusion (GBEIB) to provide clarity and ensure alignment with global standards. Diversity encompasses a wide range of individual characteristics, including gender, ethnicity, race, age, sexual orientation, disability, education, and many more. Equity emphasizes the importance of fairness, where everyone has equal access to opportunities and resources. Inclusion is the dynamic state in which diversity is leveraged to create an environment that values and respects individuals, ensuring equitable access to resources and opportunities while fostering a sense of belonging and engagement.

Our Team Members' Contributions

Each BEST team member brings unique experiences, knowledge, and talents to their roles and interactions with peers, managers, and clients. It is this rich tapestry of perspectives that exemplifies our culture and values. We embrace and celebrate differences in age, colour, disability, ethnicity, family or marital status, gender identity or expression, language, national origin, political affiliation, religion, sexual orientation, socioeconomic status, and other characteristics that make our team members truly unique.

Integration of DEI Principles

Diversity, equity, and inclusion are woven into the fabric of our organization. They are principles that guide our actions and decisions. Our DEI principles are interwoven throughout various aspects of our workflows and policies, including recruitment and selection, compensation and benefits, professional development and training, and succession and workforce planning. We are committed to providing an environment that promotes gender and diversity equity, fosters teamwork and employee participation, and actively contributes to the communities in which we operate.

Living Our Values

BEST has a set of core values that serve as our guiding principles. They are:

• We Do What's Right
• We are Empowered to Take Action
• We Seek Opportunities
• We Continuously Improve
• We Have Fun

These values reinforce our commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion. By embodying these values, we create an inclusive environment where everyone feels safe, respected, engaged, motivated, and valued for their unique contributions.

Our Expectations and Support

We hold ourselves and each other accountable for upholding our DEI policy. We expect all team members to conduct themselves in a manner that reflects inclusion, not just within the workplace but also at work functions, company-sponsored events, and client interactions. If any team member believes they have experienced discrimination that conflicts with our diversity policy and initiatives, we encourage them to reach out to their direct manager or contact our HR department for assistance.

We understand that our diverse workforce is the backbone of our success. We are proud to foster a culture where diversity, equity, and inclusion are celebrated, respected, and integrated into everything we do. By embracing the principles of DEI and living our core values, we create an environment where individuals thrive, ideas flourish, and innovation soars. Together, we can build a better future where everyone feels a true sense of belonging and is empowered to reach their full potential.