With Pride Month having ended on 30 June, it’s the perfect opportunity to take another look at AGC’s DEI (Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion) strategy. We’re dedicated to reflecting the diversity of society by hiring, retaining, developing, rewarding, and promoting people in an equitable and inclusive manner. We know that embracing diversity and inclusion not only boosts our performance but also enhances our social well-being, creating a more vibrant and innovative workplace.
To make this vision a reality, we established clear goals to enhance our HR processes about two years ago. We’re focused on raising awareness throughout the organization and ensuring that our management team is fully engaged. Our diversity metrics will encompass factors such as gender (including the gender pay gap), age, nationality, and disability. Additionally, we remain attentive to important aspects such as ethnicity, LGBTQ+ status, religion, and other factors, even if direct measurement isn’t always possible.
As an example, AGC has put in place local DEI committees in every workplace to ensure that the strategy is implemented correctly. Our Koszalin plant highlights this important commitment to AGC’s DEI, as around 40% of the workforce originates from outside Poland. With colleagues hailing from more than 10 different countries, an open-minded approach in terms of not only recruitment but also onboarding (Polish lessons, introductions to the new colleagues, etc.) and management has been the key to the current success of our activities there. We believe in setting targets rather than quotas because a target represents an aspirational goal.
By setting DEI targets (measured every six months), we aim to create a more inclusive and representative workforce. These targets allow us to identify and address gaps between our current state and our desired future, guiding our efforts and helping us measure progress over time. Skills, performance, and competencies will always be the foundation of our HR processes. However, by embracing diversity, we can create a virtuous circle in which we prioritize being human over anything else, allowing everyone to thrive and develop within the company.
Our diversity targets aren’t about hiring less qualified candidates over more qualified ones. Instead, AGC ensures that diverse candidates are considered and given equal opportunities to succeed. This approach helps us build a team that truly reflects the diverse society we serve, fostering a more inclusive and dynamic workplace for all.