Vodafone: Company of the Year in European Diversity Awards

Vodafone has been named Company of the Year in the first ever European Diversity Awards.  The award recognises companies that demonstrate a holistic and long term commitment to equality and have recorded significant progress in creating a diverse and inclusive workplace.

Over 350 people came together to recognise and celebrate the efforts of individuals, organisations and employers who have helped make vast improvements to lives of the diverse communities of people across Europe.  The awards, sponsored by Google and organised by Square Peg Media, highlighted some of Europe’s highest achievers in the field.

Martin Gregory, Head of Human Resources at Vodafone Malta said:  “We are delighted and proud that Vodafone Group has won this award.  It confirms the significant progress made in the area of diversity and inclusion in a short period of time.  As part of the Group, Vodafone Malta implements a number of initiatives that work towards these goals.  We have a dedicated team that coordinates programmes in the local community, delivers action plans and helps support the global agenda so that Vodafone Malta will be truly a company that promotes diversity and inclusion.”

Vodafone’s impact is demonstrated in a number of areas including making Diversity and Inclusion a strategic priority for the CEO’s executive committee, making it a priority for business as a whole and introducing gender targets linked to individual objectives for the top 250 leaders.  The company has also identified key enablers to help realise the vision through designing and delivering interventions.  Raising awareness is also high on the agenda, making it relevant across the wider business.

Locally, Vodafone Malta endeavours to provide the best Work Life Balance measures on the market so as to ensure diversity and inclusion. Amongst these, Vodafone Malta has introduced flexible working arrangement, teleworking, 3 extra weeks of maternity leave with full pay; the right to reduced hours following the birth of a child; 2 extra days of paid marriage leave; 1 extra day of paid paternal leave; extra paid vacation leave depending on length of service and 3 days of paid community service leave.  This besides the work that the Vodafone Malta Foundation does with various local NGOs to enable the inclusion of people with disabilities; promoting a more just society and giving opportunities to underprivileged children and to the elderly to live a better life

This position was even acknowledged as a step in the right direction towards providing equal opportunities to all employees by the National Commission for the Promotion of Equality as Vodafone Malta was formally certified as being one of the first organisations receiving the Equality mark.