Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) at dss+
We are committed to fostering a diverse, equitable, and inclusive environment where every individual feels valued, heard, and empowered. Our DEI efforts are rooted in the belief that diversity of thought, background, and experiences drives innovation, leads to better outcomes for our clients and provides a better working environment for our people. We strive to create a respectful workplace, celebrating the unique contributions of each team member and promoting equal opportunities for growth and success.
Through open dialogue and collaboration, we strive to build a culture that empowers individuals to be their authentic selves. Whilst we have specific KPIs that are reviewed at the board level, we know that creating an inclusive environment for all is the right thing to do.
Our commitment to DEI is also integrated into our work with clients, both in how we manage client relationships and the means through which we help them to achieve their goals through sustainable transformation. Indeed, our consultants are typically on the ground with our industrial clients across a wide range of geographies and cultures. We know that our clients benefit from diversity of thought and experience, and thus we construct diverse teams to find solutions with our clients, ensuring that all of our people are safe, accepted, and respected. We recognise that change takes time and effort, but we are dedicated to holding ourselves accountable for creating lasting impact, internally and externally.
Our Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Commitments
dss+ commits to:
- Fostering a culture that values and respects diverse perspectives, backgrounds and experiences through training, workshops and open discussions
- Ensuring that 100% of employees will receive DEI-focused training
- Ensuring that 100% of senior leaders & managers will receive bespoke DEI-focused training
- Implementing our actionable roadmap to advance our DEI efforts and provide an inclusive environment for all employees
- Communicating regular & transparent progress towards our DEI goals to all employees
- Quarterly internal communication updates towards our goals
- Undertaking an annual compensation disparity analysis & addressing our findings (based on gender, race, ethnicity)
- Implementing unbiased hiring processes that promote diverse candidate pools, minimising unconscious biases, and ensuring equitable opportunities for underrepresented groups at all levels of the organisation
- Increasing the representation of women across all levels of the organisation by 50%
- Strengthening our internal DEI governance framework in all geographies by building accountability among leaders, empowering our DEI champions and formalising channels through which employees can report bias or discrimination without retaliation
- Supporting and encouraging the formation of Safe Spaces for employees to support, share, connect and engage with different identity groups
- Holding leadership and all employees accountable for upholding DEI values
How our DEI Commitments Align to our Core Values
- Safety & Health
It is our focus to maintain a physically and emotionally safe and healthy workplace for all employees, especially caring for each and everyone’s psychological wellbeing. - Environmental Stewardship
We always manage our businesses to protect and preserve the environment, both for today and for generations into the future. We are acutely aware that DEI and environmental issues are intersectional; environmental problems often disproportionately affect marginalised communities, including people of colour, indigenous populations, and low-income individuals. Recognising and addressing these inequities is essential for effective environmental stewardship. - Highest Ethical Behaviour
Ethical behaviour requires recognising and respecting individual differences, including factors like race, gender, sexual orientation, ethnicity, religion, age, and disability. Embracing diversity and promoting inclusion are essential components of ethical conduct as it demonstrates a commitment to treating all individuals with dignity and valuing their unique perspectives. - Respect for People
The connection between DEI (Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion) and respect for people is fundamental and deeply intertwined. By respecting and valuing diversity, individuals, and organizations demonstrate an appreciation for unique perspectives. DEI encourages individuals to be mindful of their interactions, and communication styles, and ensure that they are considerate and sensitive to the experiences and feelings of others. DEI fosters empathy by encouraging individuals to listen and understand the experiences of others. When people feel respected and included, trust is built, leading to stronger relationships and collaboration, thus creating a positive work culture.