Creating an open and inclusive workplace drives innovation
March 22, 2024 | Diversity and Inclusion, Innovation, neurodiversity celebration week
We know that inclusion drives innovation. It’s why we’ve built DE&I into the DNA of our business. Find out how we’re working to become a more open and inclusive employer.
We’re a Disability Confident Committed employer and make sure to hire people from diverse backgrounds, including people from across the neurodivergent spectrum, because we know they can strengthen our team and open more opportunities to create innovative and impactful campaigns.
We’ve been working closely with the disability charity, Lighthouse Futures Trust on ways we can become more accessible as an employer as part of our Disability Confident Committed Employer certification.
Following their advice, we’ve been working on updating our hiring process by being:
- Proactive in seeking neurodivergent hires
- Flexible with our interview process
- Open about our diversity support and the adjustments we’re able to make
Providing work experience for neurodivergent people
One way we’ve been able to put this in action is by working with Mel – an intern from Lighthouse Futures Trust – on a recent photography project creating updated corporate portraits for our team.
The shoot itself was a huge success, with us getting some fantastic new headshots for our team and Mel gaining some great professional experience too. We’re currently working with her to arrange some further mentoring around the use of photoshop and other editing tools to help further her experience.
Inclusive by design
In line with the recent Buckland Report, we’re looking at how we can be more inclusive by design.
For example, we offer:
- Flexible working, allowing staff to work from home, in the office or in a hybrid format
- Office introductions for new employees who choose to work in the office either full-time or on a hybrid basis
- An individual Wellbeing Action Plan for every employee, where they can request any necessary adjustments without stigma
We’re making a conscious effort to increase our search parameters when searching for new hires by offering mentoring opportunities, work experience and training to charities like Smart Works and Mind, who help people who have struggled to gain or retain employment.
Exploring how we can create more accessible content
We believe that everyone should have access to relevant and useful health information.
You can see some of the ways we approach inclusion and innovation in our work through our thought leadership pieces and our design for dyslexia experiment.
This content was provided by Mednet