Working together for an inclusive work culture

Published date: 8 March 2024

Carolina Thomys at the ED&I Council by Robert Walters

08/03/24 – In our colourful, diverse world, striving for equality and inclusion is no longer an option, but a necessity. This awareness is firmly anchored in the day-to-day work of the international HR consultancy Robert Walters. Every country in which the company is present has representatives on the ED&I (Equality, Diversity & Inclusion) Council, which actively promotes an inclusive corporate culture. One of the drivers of this commitment is Carolina Thomys, Senior Consultant at Robert Walters in Düsseldorf and one of the three representatives of the German Robert Walters locations on the ED&I Council.

What is the aim of the ED&I Council at Robert Walters?

"Our Council aims to make our working environment and culture more inclusive. We want to enable every employee to perform authentically – regardless of age, social background, sexual orientation, religion and world view, physical and mental abilities, gender and gender identity, ethnic origin and nationality," explains Carolina Thomys.

Carolina, what motivated you to join the ED&I Council?

"I never felt like I wasn't allowed to be myself at Robert Walters. It's because of our positive, individual-orientated management. The opportunity to give back, make a positive contribution and provide the same experience to my colleagues was a great opportunity. It was not only an important but also a nice realisation for me that our culture is similar worldwide and runs like a common DNA through all Robert Walters locations. This has further strengthened my desire to play an active role."

What are your tasks within the ED&I Council?

"Together with two other deputies of the ED&I Council in Germany, I identify and plan topics that we want to raise awareness of internally. We develop measures and solutions that we share with the management. We discuss the results again separately with the entire Northern ED&I Council every month. We learn and inspire each other at these meetings."

What projects does the ED&I Council support?

"I am proud of the Female Networking Event, which I was able to organise to mark International Women's Day. Under the motto 'Women in Tech', women in IT management positions were offered a platform and informed about the five tips for digitalisation processes in companies. The ED&I Council is also planning a workshop on the topic of 'Multigenerational Workplace', which aims to bring different generations closer together and develop and strengthen a shared culture of values. For 2024, we are aiming to raise awareness of people with disabilities and focus on the topic of mental health."

How do customers and candidates benefit from the ED&I Council?

"If we create an internal awareness of discriminatory behaviour, different life realities and more diverse application processes, this also has an external impact. We value diversity in recruitment and guarantee our clients and candidates a consistently positive experience. Our focus is on inclusive and enriching collaboration. At the same time, we encourage our clients to foster an equally diverse and positive work culture within their organisations. Such a workforce enables the exchange of diverse opinions and ideas. It also reflects the perspectives of key stakeholders with whom organisations interact."

A study conducted by McKinsey also shows a significant correlation: companies with a high proportion of women in top management – especially in Germany – are up to twice as likely to be more profitable than average.

Robert Walters ED&I Service and further information

If you are looking for more diversity in recruitment, you can find more information about our customised D&I advertising package here. You are also welcome to contact our recruitment consultants anytime, who will advise you according to your needs and wishes.

Click here for our webinar "How to create an inclusive culture to attract and retain the best talent"