The Valuable 500 has urged leaders around the world to mark Global Accessibility Awareness Day to ensure disability inclusion is on the boardroom agenda, particularly during the pandemic. The COVID-19 Pandemic has highlighted the “structural inequalities against people with disabilities when it comes to accessibility and inclusion,” according to Valuable 500, which is why it’s more important than ever to ensure disability inclusion on the agenda.
“As people globally are implored to stay at home to prevent the spread of coronavirus, we are now entering a world where vast swathes of society can personally relate to what it is like to be socially excluded. It has awoken a collective empathy, both in society and business more broadly, that this is often the norm for people with disabilities,” stated Caroline Casey, Founder of Valuable 500. “Businesses have proven that they can adapt and revolutionise working models in a short time frame when forced to do so. Now, business leaders must continue this approach in levelling the playing field when it comes to equal accessibility and opportunity for all in the business community. The onus is equally on business leaders as it is the rest of society to take a firm, proactive stance in leading this change.”
COVID-19 CHALLENGES
According to Tony Smurfit, CEO of Smurfit Kappa, “COVID-19 is presenting challenges for every business. It is about embracing the challenges we’re facing together and learning from them to create healthier and more accessible workplaces for all of us. I, for one, am excited to see what the future holds. “We are delighted to be part of The Valuable 500 as part of our ongoing disability awareness and inclusion strategy. At Smurfit Kappa, we recognise that the only thing we truly have in common is diversity. Our EveryOne programme strives to harness the power of our differences, including disability and make the most of them.”
Jean Pierre Mustier, CEO of UniCredit, agrees, adding: “Diversity and inclusion are key for companies, bringing a better working environment and supporting risk mitigation and management. Now more than ever, during a very difficult time for so many, we must stand together and respect all our differences. Joining the Valuable 500 once again demonstrates our strong commitment to diversity and inclusion as well as building on our ongoing efforts that include dedicated policies, training, key external partnerships and internal engagement initiatives on disability management.”
NEW VALUABLE 500 SIGN-UPS
Other companies to commit to the Valuable 500 movement, along with Kappa and UniCredit, which pledges to putting disability inclusion on their leadership agenda include: Airbnb, BMI Healthcare, Charles Russell Speechlys, DPD, Ecolab, Fidelity International, Mitsubishi Chemical, Nationwide, pladis, SAP, Scottish Water, Smurfit, Soneva, SSEN, Stephenson Harwood and Wipro.
As a Global Executive Sponsor of Diversity and Inclusion for SAP’s Customer Success organisation, Brian Duffy, VP EMEA North and Global Executive Sponsor of Diversity and Inclusion, SAP, commented: I am incredibly proud of the work we do every day to ensure our employees feel empowered to bring their authentic selves to work. We have a host of initiatives to help us achieve our diversity and inclusion goals – including our Autism at Work program and Business Women’s Network, among other important employee network groups. Joining the Valuable 500 network will help further our efforts in this area. Individuals entering the workforce today want to be part of organisations with a strong sense of purpose, and the skills and differences of all people need to be accommodated in the workplace. By tackling diversity and inclusion from a holistic, industry-wide perspective, we can create a culture with richer ideas that will help drive innovation within our sector.”
Christopher Page, Senior Partner at Charles Russell Speechlys, added: “We all know that there is undoubtedly much more that can and should be done to open up the worlds of work and client experiences to ensure that they are more inclusive and more accessible to those living with a disability. Being a signatory shows we are prepared to be held to account in helping to achieve that by: reviewing how we attract and support a diverse workforce to reach their full potential; considering how we can best support all of our clients whatever their needs; and ensuring disability inclusion remains on the leadership agenda.”
ACCESSIBLE FOR ALL
Commenting on joining the initiative, Brian Chesky, CEO and Co-Founder of Airbnb, stated: “Airbnb’s mission is to create a world where anyone can belong anywhere, and this, of course, includes people with disabilities. We are working hard to make sure our products and services are widely accessible, especially for hosts and guests with disabilities. Airbnb is deeply committed to fostering an inclusive and diverse community, and we are delighted to join Valuable 500.”
Anne Richards, CEO at Fidelity International, said she is also “proud to be joining The Valuable 500 movement”. “We want to play our part in creating a society where everyone can thrive, so we are delighted to offer our support to this excellent campaign.”
Adding to her comments, Salman Amin, CEO of pladis, said: “At pladis, our focus begins with inclusion, knowing that it is only through creating the right environment that we will successfully make strides in our inclusion and diversity promise and thrive as a business. Joining The Valuable 500 movement offers a commitment to our people, customers, suppliers and all our stakeholders that pladis is stepping forward and will play a part in moving the dial in this vital area.”
COLLECTIVE AWAKENING
Sunita Cherian, Global I&D Head, Wipro Limited, agrees: “At Wipro, nurturing diversity and inclusion is integral to our culture, and we are committed to it. We celebrate a plurality of ideas, perspectives and experiences that come from varied backgrounds. Being part of the Valuable 500 global movement underscores our commitment to foster an inclusive workplace and society at large.”
Eifion Morris, CEO of Stephenson Harwood, shares their sentiments: “There is so much value in diversity – bringing different perspectives, voices, and ideas into our business, but it’s when we truly include all of our colleagues that we reap the benefits. That’s why joining the Valuable 500 movement, and committing to disability inclusion is so important.”
Commenting on the new sign-up, Caroline Casey, stated: “We are excited to welcome the new sign-ups joining The Valuable 500 community today and are proud of their demonstrative commitment to acting on the importance of disability inclusion during this global public health crisis. We are confident that they will be at the forefront of the businesses capitalising on the collective awakening of empathy to ensure disability inclusion is firmly integrated into the business landscape.”
Caroline Casey, also joins the BBC’s Director General, Tony Hall and the United Nations (UN) Deputy Secretary-General, Amina J Mohammed the discussion on how to ensure diversity and inclusion (D&) is at the heart of plans to recover better from the COVID-19 pandemic to mark International Diversity Day on Thursday 21 May, as reported.
The campaign aims to have 500 global business leaders and CEOs signed up to the initiative by January 2021, coinciding with Davos 2021. They have 278 CEO Signatories to date, with 114 days more to reach 500. Click here if you would like more information or to join up.
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