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 exceptional 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