Family Benefits: How to Review a Non-Inclusive Policy?
Context
In light of feedback from employees who identified inequalities created by the existing family benefits policy, the non-profit proposed to update its HR Policy. The old policy granted family medical coverage and allowances only to Heterosexual and LGBTIQ+ colleagues with officially recognized partnerships. Acknowledging the need for greater inclusivity, the non-profit started a review of the policy to better accommodate the diverse needs of all its employees.
The issue
The existing HR policy impacted Heterosexual and LGBTIQ+ employees with non-legally recognized partnerships. These colleagues found themselves excluded due to documentation issues, which limited their access to essential benefits.
Approach to solving the problem
Diversity Incorporation advised the non-profit to adopt a multi-faceted approach to resolving this issue:
Creating an internal task force of employees to gather valuable insights and brainstorm solutions
Conducting a thorough review of the current policy to identify areas for improvement
Securing buy-in from organizational leadership to ensure effective implementation
The Result
Diversity Incorporation partnered with Non-profit to successfully review the policy:
A newly reviewed policy was introduced, adding flexibility to accommodate those unable to produce legal documents
Tailor-made training was developed and provided to HR, enabling them to make more informed decisions
An announcement was sent on the intranet to inform the staff about the policy update
