Having experienced and witnessed discrimination during my career I stepped forward to help drive the DE&I agenda by launching VOICED. I’m glad I did. It has been a journey, but I believe that a greater diversity of people and thought will help our business succeed. Ethnic diversity and inclusion feed the development of more innovative solutions, support talent acquisition and retention and has even been shown to directly impact financial performance.
In the past year, VOICED has held a psychological safety workshop and facilitated kp’s membership to
Business In The Communities’ Race at Work Charter, which asks businesses to agree to take seven key actions to improve the quality of opportunity in the workplace for ethnically diverse employees. We’re currently looking at how the business can capture ethnicity data and are driving the updating of a couple of key policies. Our next company-wide event is planned for November, which will shine the spotlight on the importance of equity, especially in light of current events globally that have contributed to racial tension.
As I look ahead to the next 12 months, I hope we continue to build the VOICED network and keep educating and engaging with colleagues. I know we will have challenges, but I also know we will have successes. I’m proud to play a small part in making kp an even better place to work – a place where everyone is respected and valued for their contribution, where we’re all treated equally, and where we’re all heard.
Imojen Jean
Chair of VOICED and Communications Specialist, Sustainability
Klöckner Pentaplast