Diageo India announces Enhanced Wellness Policy for all employees, effective July 2020
Diageo India has said that it has rolled out an enhanced wellness policy for all employees effective July 2020, as part of its commitment to promote an inclusive and diverse working environment.
The policy will apply to all employees regardless of sexual orientation, gender identity or expression including LGBT+. With the enhanced policy we are revising and expanding the definition of ‘family’ to include ‘same sex’ and ‘live in’ partners.
As part of the wellness policy, medical coverage and leave benefits will be extended to both same sex and opposite-sex domestic partners. Moreover, the policy will provide medical coverage for gender confirmation procedures. Similarly, surrogacy and fertility treatment medical benefits will be made available for all employees.
Commenting on the wellness policy, Anand Kripalu, Managing Director, and CEO, Diageo India said, “At Diageo, championing inclusion and diversity is central to our purpose of celebrating life, every day, everywhere. Our strength lies is in our diversity, with each person bringing their distinct experience, talent, and culture, that is integral to our business success. Through the enhanced policy, we are committed to providing a workplace that is equal and provides dignity and respect to all, and is reflective of our values and who we are.”
The policy covers all employees regardless of sexual orientation and gender identity and will provide equal medical and leave benefits to same-sex and live-in partners.
Diageo India CHRO Aarif Aziz said in the last five-six years there has been a lot of work happening in the company on how to take the journey of inclusion forward.
“In the last five years, our global board looks very different now, from being a all-while male to a very diverse board. We have a similar situation on how we have changed the board here in India. If you look at our gender representation it has significantly changed,” Aziz said.
Last year, 43% of the company’s new recruitment were women and more than 25% of leadership position in the company is filled by women now, he added.
As the company takes the journey of inclusion forward, the agenda needed to be expanded, he said adding the idea was “how do you really focus on hiring and reflect the inclusive culture and how do you really start creating an environment which is inclusive for the (lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender) LGBT community as well.”
Diageo is a global leader in beverage alcohol with an outstanding collection of brands. These brands include Johnnie Walker, Crown Royal, J&B, Buchanan’s and Windsor whiskies, Smirnoff, Cîroc and Ketel One vodkas, Captain Morgan, Baileys, Don Julio, Tanqueray and Guinness.
