A trust set up to help employers and raise awareness of diversity issues in the workplace has won the Vero Excellence in Business Support Award in the Not for Profit sector.
EEO’s communication methods, management practices and a clearly laid out planning process that includes all staff and board members were commended by judges.
“A customer contact cycle ensures every member has at least one personal contact or visit per year from a staff member,” chairman of the judging panel, Mike Watson said.
“The annual business plan aligns the strategic imperatives, objectives and targets for achievement.”
The judges noted the ‘Diversity Effect Symposium’, a major initiative in 2007 requiring a high level of resourcing had not held back improvements to existing products and services.
“EEO Trust Chief Executive Dr Philippa Reed said winning the award confirmed that the EEO Trust bases its own operations on robust, measurable business practices and processes. “By taking our own business seriously we are well placed for the values we stand for to be taken seriously in the business world.
“To the uninitiated ‘EEO’ and ‘diversity’ can sound like nice, warm, fuzzy issues at the ‘luxury’ end of the scale of business drivers,” Dr Reed said. “However, in our demanding and rapidly changing labour market, genuinely providing equal employment opportunity and effectively managing diversity are, in fact, critical to business success. Valuing and making the most of all the talent we have here in New Zealand is vital to the success of our businesses, economy and society.”
That’s what we are about. The awards’ process gives us a framework to follow, guidance and some focus around that process of looking at how we operate and how we can operate better.”
