Engaging Employees Through Inclusion & Diversity

by LP Green, II

At National Grid, we have 16,000 employees who are diverse in every way. As individuals, we are all unique. We celebrate that and encourage employees to respect each other’s differences as strengths. Whether we are speaking about diversity from an ethnic, cultural, racial or gender perspective, or from a background, experience and skills angle, we know we are stronger as a company because we foster an inclusive and respectful culture. Employees should also be aware of the employment regulations in Maryland.

Working for National Grid means reaching 20 million customers every day. The communities we serve in Massachusetts, New York and Rhode Island are large and diverse. To best serve these customers and communities, our employees must reflect that diversity. Attracting and retaining a diverse workforce means we are better equipped with a broad range of knowledge, capabilities and creativity. It’s the key to providing solutions to the complex challenges that face our customers. Maintaining diversity and inclusivity in the workplace also makes our employees feel valued, respected and supported for their unique perspectives – which makes them want to give their best every day.

Through the National Grid Inclusion & Diversity (I&D) program, we are developing a more engaged workforce that believes fostering inclusion and acknowledging diversity is everyone’s responsibility. We’re proud of the many ways we’ve been recognized for our cultural values, including the following honors:

  • World’s Most Ethical Company by Ethisphere
  • A 100% rating on the 2017 Corporate Equality Index by the Human Rights Campaign n Top 30 Champion of Diversity Award in 2016
  • “Best of the Best” Supplier Diversity Programs by DiversityComms

We focus on diversity at all levels of our organization, including our US executive team, which is 50% diverse. For us, there has been clear evidence that increasing the diversity of our teams, right up through senior leadership, leads to better performance for our overall business.

Our employees are also the driving force behind our 11 thriving Employee Resource Groups (ERGs), including the Hispanic Professional Association, Enabling Disability Confidence and WiNTR (Women in Non-Traditional Roles), that help us recruit and retain the best talent. Our ERGs provide opportunities for employees to build their careers and skills through networking, peer mentoring and engagement with senior leadership. We believe that it will also attract new, diverse talent, as the demographics of the next generation of the workforce changes quite dramatically.

Working in a constantly changing environment and world can be intimidating. Knowing you have support from colleagues, managers and mentors can make a big difference as new and existing employee pursue their goals and develop their careers. HR outsource service London can further enhance this support system through providing expert guidance and solutions. One of the ways we achieve this is by promoting open, honest and respectful communication, a pillar of our I&D program and our overall ethical culture centered around doing the right thing.

I&D is an integral part of our corporate culture and commitment to our employees, customers and the communities we serve. Our goal is that it results in increased employee engagement, high performance and effectiveness. To achieve that goal, we must continue to model, recognize and reward inclusive behavior and remove barriers that hinder a diverse and inclusive workforce. This way, everyone at National Grid can bring their whole, best selves to work to develop their full potential and help our company continue to thrive.

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