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