Data from the Australian Government Workplace Gender Equality Agency (WGEA) shows that companies with a diverse and inclusive workplace outperform their competitors, achieve greater profits and can better attract and retain high performers.
While there is a consensus among industry leaders that a diverse and inclusive culture is intrinsic to better performance, it is not always clear how to achieve that goal.
With that in mind, the Embrace Difference Council – the Drinks Association’s council for equity, diversity and inclusion – has developed both a Scorecard and Toolkit to provide data and resources to all member organisations.
The Embrace Difference Scorecard
An Industry Scorecard has been developed to raise awareness of Diversity and Inclusion within the Drinks Industry and invoke action for change.
Initially our scorecard looks through the lens of gender equality and will be broadened with inclusion measures in year two. The intent of the scorecard is to raise awareness for diversity and inclusion across our industry and invoke action.
The current scorecard captures all member companies that report through to WGEA however there will be an opportunity for members that do not currently report to WGEA to add their data manually through a template that will be communicated by an Embrace Difference Council representative.
We encourage all members to contribute, if possible, to increase the accuracy of the scorecard in relation to the Drinks Association members and data will need to be collected in August to meet the timings of the next scorecard.
The updated scorecard will be shared annually, upon the publishing of updated data by WGEA, and HRD forums will also provide an opportunity for pulse checks and to share initiatives taken to improve measures.
To ensure confidentiality, the scorecard has been managed through the HR Director and Drinks Association Board Director in each business.
The Embrace Difference Toolkit
A diverse and inclusive workplace culture is now commonly recognised as being integral to business performance.
Successful Diversity & Inclusion programs share several main drivers: robust metrics, leadership engagement and alignment, integrated talent processes and a business-focused strategy.
However, businesses in the liquor industry come in various shapes and sizes and may not all become experts in all these areas at the same pace.
The Embrace Difference Toolkit aims to address this by turning aspirations into reality and giving businesses the tools they need to be inclusive.
The toolkit is based on best practice and has been adapted for our industry. It defines four distinct ‘maturity’ levels helping businesses to self-diagnose which level they are at on the maturity map and how to develop, providing several practical examples at each level highlighting what success looks like.
As companies rise through these levels, their diversity and inclusion programs have an increasing impact on their businesses. The toolkit includes many resources to support businesses wherever they may be on their diversity and inclusion journey.
Businesses can take ownership of the toolkit’s generic diversity and inclusion policies and brand them their own, implement diversity and inclusion into training and development sessions for their senior leaders and build a committee of champions for diversity and inclusion from all levels of their organisations.
Currently, the ‘Foundation’ level is complete with the remaining three levels under construction.
The toolkit will be updated ongoing and we welcome feedback on resources and uptake from members. The initial focus has been on providing resources for the foundation level, once we have an accurate picture of differing maturity levels and needs, we will progress to next levels in the matrix.
Drinks Association Members can access the toolkit through the Drinks Association website, click here.
Members will be able to use their regular login details to access the Toolkit. Contact us at info@drinks.asn.au if you don’t have a login or have forgotten your login details.