Today, we speak with Nicky Lintott, Head of Diversity, Equity & Inclusion, about the work of the organisation’s race and ethnicity employee resource group (ERG), Beyond Differences and its role in creating important new policies and procedures across Elysium.
“As an organisation, we have an incredibly proactive and effective race and ethnicity ERG. Their work is hugely important to us as an organisation and has a direct and positive impact on so many aspects of our work.
“For example, during the recent Black History Month, Beyond Differences developed a great schedule to celebrate the event, one which celebrated all cultures and also encouraged all sites to get involved in their own way. Coupled with interesting online meetings and webinars, including a talk from our Chief People Officer at the group’s Overseas Staff Forum on the importance of our overseas colleagues, it was a really busy and fascinating month.
“One of the events focused on anti-racism. It’s such an important subject. The Beyond Differences Group has been working on the development of the organisational anti-racism zero tolerance statement, an anti-racism policy as well as an anti-racism toolkit.
“The statement is particularly powerful and sets out our organisational position, and approach – Don’t Ignore it, Report it – and reflects that we have zero tolerance for discrimination, bullying, harassment, violence, or abuse – from anyone, at any time.
This applies to all employees, workers, service users, family members, visitors, and anyone in our workplace environment. Our senior leadership team is fully committed to ensuring everyone feels safe, respected, and valued at work.
“Racism and discrimination have no place at Elysium Healthcare. We will not tolerate any form of unacceptable behaviour, including discrimination based on race, gender, age, religion, disability, sexual orientation, or any protected characteristic.
“It really sets out that we are dedicated to prevention through education and encouraging an inclusive culture, empowering staff to report concerns, responding swiftly, supporting those who experience unacceptable behaviour, ensuring their mental health and wellbeing are prioritised and holding accountable individuals who perpetrate such acts and taking appropriate action.
“The toolkit is set to launch in the near future. It will go out to all of our sites and help in the support of any colleague who may experience racism, looking at support, reporting and interventions.
“Organisationally we are continuing to roll out cultural intelligence training and we have also recently created a corporate statement on zero tolerance which has an emphasis on anti-racism. We want this statement to be as visible as possible and be very clear, we have a zero tolerance of any form of racism targeted at colleagues.”
