Inclusion into the workspace is a significant step for further development of marginalized sections of the society like the LGBTQ community that continues to battle stereotypes and discrimination. A sustainable approach will not only benefit the community but also the employer by bringing in a diverse culture. And one such organization leading by example is Tata Steel. In 2020, it was named the Top Employer for LGBTQ inclusion workspace by the India Workplace Equality Index (IWEI).
The index is the country’s first development for ensuring comprehensive standard measures to enable efforts for LGBTQ inclusion.
14 Transgenders aboard at the West Bokaro Division
Keeping up with the notable work to ensure a diverse workspace culture, the Tata Steel’s West Bokaro Division recently welcomed onboard at its mines fourteen transgenders to the post of Heavy Earth Moving Machinery (HEMM) Operators. Apart from this, the company has also made significant development on gender inclusion when under the ‘Women@Mines’ initiative it brought in 17 women as HEMM operators at the West Bokaro Division.
D B Sundara Ramam, the Vice President of the Raw Materials division said in the company’s official release that this was yet another milestone achieved in the company’s diverse and inclusive goals. “Our pioneering Diversity & Inclusion endeavor are transformative and has brought about paradigm shifts in the way we do mining.” He further said that Tata steel is an employer providing for equal opportunity that respects the unique attributes of every individual so that they are able to perform at their best of capacity.
Atrayee Sanyal, the Vice President of Human Resource Management congratulated the new team, saying that such a pioneer initiative reinforces the belief and strengthens the organizations and encourages people when companies become open to including various identities, thoughts, and perspectives. On behalf of the company, she welcomed them towards a great and successful future.
Pioneering Initiatives
The company has been a pioneer in inclusive and healthy workspace initiatives. In 2015, the Diversity & Inclusion initiative formed the MOSAIC and participated in the largest job fair in Asia for the LGBTQ community, named RISE. Among other initiatives taken up in the past, they had introduced policies like 8-hour work, leave with pay, and menstrual leaves for women.
