The HBLF for Diversity HR Target Group has experienced an exciting and
fruitful time so far in 2009. The Diversity Codex, issued 3 years ago,
stipulates the commitment of HBLF and its corporate members towards
ensuring that diversity and „being different” should be accepted and
applied in Hungarian business life.
One of our ex
ceptional results is that the Diversity Codex was signed
by 6 new companies in 2009, increasing thus the number of firms
respecting and exercising these principles to 22. Another sign of the
significance and up-to-dateness of this issue is, that the number of
members of the HR Target Group has also grown: we were joined by 8 new
members from different industries. Overall, we have now an even
stronger extended team of 27 committed members devoted to promoting
diversity.
Three programmes of outstanding importance have been organised over the course of 2009:
• „Corporate Diversity: A photo about abilities – equal
opportunities”, an amateur photo competition, for which 46 pictures
arrived from 22 corporations. The award ceremony took place on 22
April, 2009 at the International Business School, where Edit Rauh,
State secretary responsible for equal opportunities congratulated the
event. This was followed by a travelling exhibition in Budapest and in
the countryside, which thousands of people could attend and see the
photos displaying the local initiatives and best practices of Corporate
Diversity and equal opportunities. The exhibition was hosted by 20
companies.
• Under the auspices of the Ministry of Social Affairs and Labour,
the HBLF HR Target Group and the mtd Consulting Community, a conference
was held entitled „Equal opportunity at workplace – Corporate
responsibility”. This remarkable event proved to be an excellent
opportunity for real conversation enjoyed by representatives coming
from the civil side, the corporate world as well as the academic or
state sector. The conference was attended by 200 people and was
organised on 21 May.
• Another major milestone among our programmes is the creation of a
„Work-life balance toolkit”, which elaborates on and provides guidance
about such actual issues as: „Teleworking”, „Outplacement”, „How to
prepare and equal opportunity plan?”, „Maternity leave”, „Equal
opportunity in practice”, all this in a simple, understandable one
pager format. Concerning maternity leave, we organised a round table
discussion on November 20, focusing on „Work and /or family?”. Our
primary target was to establish the framework of a dialogue for all
related participants of the discussion ranging from HR professionals,
business leaders, representatives, to employees concerned. In addition,
a proposal was compiled summarising ways and ideas both how to make
corporations more accepting and attractive for women on maternity
leave, and how they can stay competitive in the labour market. These
useful tips are available for not only HBLF members, but for the public
as well on the HBLF website.
Reflecting on our successes together with our achievements and taking
personal feedback into consideration, we strongly believe that
Hungarian Business community is open to and calls for the continuation
of promoting diversity with the active involvement of HBLF HR Target
Group.
There is only one way, however, to achieve this goal: by joining our
forces to provide opportunities for sharing best practices, generating
more dialogues, and involving further companies in our activities.
Ibolya Gothárdi
HBLF for Diversity HR Target Group Leader
