To build a diverse work force is to build a more successful business. Today, it is clear that an inclusive approach is expected by clients and employees alike. As diversity and inclusion moves from a policy to something that runs through the life blood of a business, questions are raised, such as how companies can tailor business travel programmes in support.
For many businesses, especially those working in a highly regulated environments such as the financial services sector, progress is marked, “"At PwC UK we have a five-point action plan to promote diversity and inclusion as we know the value different cultures, qualities and perspectives bring to our business," says head of business services for PwC Mark Avery. "The PwC travel policy does not specifically differentiate for diversity; we treat everybody the same."
Rosie Mohammad, Head of Travel, takes a similar approach with the travel policy at Law Firm Pinset Masons, “We have purposely taken a very inclusive approach to the travel policy. All travellers receive a report that covers both generic safety advice and more specific destination information. We also include an open invitation within a pre-trip advisory email to all travellers to speak to our responsible business team if they have any specific concerns. The onus has to be on the traveller to come and have the conservation in order to respect their privacy.”
Jonathan Bond, Pinsent Masons Director of HR and Learning elaborates, “We actually went through all of our policies with our LGBTQ+ group to identify if there was anything within those policies that we had overlooked and that wasn’t represented in a truly inclusive way”.