Life lessons on EDI to serve us a lifetime

Guest post from Janine Fletcher .

We learn from a young age about our differences. In my life, I learned every step of the way, to make me into the person I am today: a person who is hopefully more attuned to the difference of others, sees it as a ‘value add’ and treats others with the respect they deserve, irrespective of who they are.? ?

My own ‘diversity’?

I was born with a muscle imbalance on one side of my body to the other.? Though mild, I’d had physiotherapy sessions when I was younger to address the issues. I wasn’t keen on sport, and I was often one of the last to be picked in the PE sessions.? I found every excuse to get out of it. I felt awkward not being able to catch a ball well and the groans from my teammates as they picked up the slack made me feel even more inadequate.? I felt left out and yet didn’t really want to join in.??

My parents divorced whilst I was in my late teens and a few years later my mum found her soulmate, Raj.? Of Indian heritage, he moved to Germany as a calypso singer, as a young man who wanted to explore the world.?? Having started a career as a singer, Raj?finished?his professional career as a lecturer in theology in the UK.? His compassion and open mindedness were infectious.???

Back then, I’d not appreciated him saying ‘let’s cross the road here,’ to which I would respond ‘oh, there’s a crossing further down’, only?to see he had already started walking across the road.? Nor did I appreciate his sensing potential trouble and avoiding it, understandably just wanting to go about his daily life without any altercations. Again, another valuable lesson I learnt.?

Lessons in Diversity during my career?

Later on, I moved to London, to start my career in HR.? My friend at university and her mum kindly gave me a roof over my head for the first two weeks in East London, while I found somewhere to rent.?

Living there I learnt that, living in the east end of London would be penalise my friend who?unsuccessfully applied?for graduate roles. It pays to have the right address, to have privilege.??

I started to interview candidates with some of the managers and learnt about the different styles, wincing internally at some of the questions that came from the managers and?just didn’t feel right. The process of engaging candidates seemed wrong, riddled with plain old discriminatory questions or comments to or about some of those candidates.? I can still vividly remember it.? There was an innate feeling to ensure that I didn’t treat anyone with disrespect, so?I wanted to say something, but I hadn’t found my voice.? They were more experienced, more senior to me. Surely, they were right??

My boss then resigned and shortly after I had a new manager.? Our first meeting I remember her saying that the executives had asked her about children and though shocked, she responded that sadly she was unable to have them so it wouldn’t be an issue.? Sharing her experience made me disclose that I’d witnessed?occurrences?things and felt that it was not right.? She created a safe space for me to speak up.?

A few months later it was pay review / bonus time.? The pretty blonde got a great bonus whilst the studious, guy with the acne and glasses got less.? I ran the payroll for the company and remember seeing the numbers and taking a second glance and going into my managers office, shutting the door and saying it felt unfair. Though I had no evidence to back it up.?

Moving to my next role, I learnt that I could mediate between line managers and employees (different genders, age, culture and life experiences). Understanding the differing perspectives now came naturally to me, although not to some managers. I witnessed employees resign because their line managers refused to celebrate that diversity, to treat those?employees with the respect and equality they deserved and refused to adapt their style to be more inclusive.?

Progressing my career, I moved to another company where the graduate scheme would only take people from ‘red brick’ universities.? The irony not lost on me that I hadn’t come from one having completed my first degree and then an MSc in a different university, both not ‘Red brick’.??? ?

Creating the HR professional I am today?

These few examples of the early experiences I have gained in my life have given me some powerful skills as an HR professional.? To be open-minded, curious, discerning, to be confident enough to?speak up.? I’ve learnt that I still get things wrong, I’ve learnt that I want to get things right.?

A good HR professional / HR team want the best for all, because it makes sense to have diversity of thoughts, it leads to creativity to respectfully challenge.? The data shows that organisations that truly celebrate ED&I enjoy a great culture, leading to higher engagement of their employees, their pride in saying who they work for, which has a great knock-on effect for the PR of the business, it’s profitability, innovation and revenue and decision making.? It’s a strategic advantage for all businesses.????

Everyone wins, so what do we lose???

This blog was first published on the Voice At The Table website ?

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