"IBM in Australia and New Zealand is made up of many different people from many different cultures and backgrounds. The common thread between us is our commitment to IBM's success in the marketplace and IBM's long-standing values and belief in inclusion. Diversity at IBM means that difference is expected, respected and encouraged so that every employee can be productive, innovative and achieve to their fullest potential. Our mission is to help create and maintain an IBM culture, climate, and environment in which all people feel welcomed and valued; and to maximize the utilisation of our diverse talent, and position IBM as the company of choice within our community and to our clients and our workforce."
Robert Orth
Director Human Resources
IBM Australia and New Zealand
"It is the policy of IBM to hire people who have the personality, talent and background necessary to fill a given job, regardless of race, color or creed"
Thomas J Watson Jnr, 1953
IBM is committed to providing a workplace where employees feel welcome and valued for who they are; this is achieved through embracing cultural differences. IBM's diversity program recognises cultural difference on the basis of ethnic background and sexual preference.
In 1998 a networking group was established by employees who are Gay, Lesbian, Bi-Sexual or Transgender. A representative of this group sits on IBM's Diversity Council.
Ethnic diversity in IBM is well established. Figures from 2001 show that IBM employees come from nearly every country in the world - from Austria to Zimbabwe.
IBM's multicultural employees are also represented on the Diversity Council and in 2003, a formal multicultural networking group was established.
One way of celebrating the differences in IBM is through our Diversity Calendar, where all days, important to our different communities, are listed.
Cultural Diversity Networking Group
IBM has a Cultural Diversity Networking Group in place to support people with different cultural backgrounds. The Group aim to network on a regular basis, and work together to raise awareness of cultural diversity within the workforce.
EAGLE Diversity Networking Group
EAGLE - Eagle at IBM is the Employee Alliance for employees who are Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual or Transgender and their supporters, and is composed of active IBM employees from across the Globe.
The Group's objective is to promote a safe and open working environment for employees who are Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual or Transgender, by focusing on Communication, Education, Marketing, and the Community.
Floating Cultural Holiday
IBM acknowledges an individual's need to balance cultural and work commitments with our Floating Cultural Holiday policy. This gives our people the option of 'trading' official public holidays for a day that is of cultural significance to them.
For example, an employee may wish to 'trade' a gazetted public holiday such as the Queen's Birthday for a cultural day of particular significance, such as Yom Kippur. |
