What interested your organisation in implementing inclusive practices for Rainbow Communities?

At Kimberly-Clark, we are committed to building exceptional workplaces, driven by a culture of inclusion and diversity (I&D). We believe that by creating an environment in which everyone can bring their authentic selves to work each day, we’re also creating a stronger performing team, one that reflects the communities we serve. 

This approach is a fundamental part of who we are at Kimberly-Clark and has long been part of our organisation’s DNA. It’s important to us that we continuously check and adjust so we can identify opportunities to further drive our inclusion and diversity agenda forward. After thorough discussions as a team in 2019, we identified a number of key areas we wished to be more proactive on, one of which was increased support for our Rainbow community.

What are some new policies and/or practices you have implemented for Rainbow inclusion?

Since obtaining our first Rainbow Tick accreditation in 2021, we have implemented several policies and initiatives to promote greater awareness amongst our workforce including:

Education & Training – we recognize the pivotal role of education and awareness building in our inclusion journey. The Active Ally Workshop provided by Rainbow Tick has become an integral part of our training program, ensuring our teams are well informed to actively support and engage with rainbow communities. Whilst these sessions are specifically run in our New Zealand office, the resources and materials shared are readily available for our Australian team to access on our Inclusion & Diversity Hub.

Celebrating Pride month is also now a significant annual feature on our KCANZ calendar. We engage our entire business on a variety of activities, from expert panel discussions, to webinars, trainings and internal activations. We acknowledge that education can take place in many different ways, which is why we offer a range of opportunities, to suit different learning styles. 

Transgender Toolkit – in 2023, with the support of our global business, we introduced a Transgender Toolkit across our ANZ business. This resource is intended to provide support for transitioning individuals, as well as guidance for team leaders and their colleagues.

Office Materials & Spaces– rainbow lanyards and ally pins are available to all employees as part of our onboarding program. And whilst very simple, we have found these items not only serve as a daily reminder to our commitment in creating a safe, inclusive and diverse workplace but also encourage conversations.

Actively pursuing inclusivity in our physical workspace has also been a key focus for us. In 2021 we approached our landlord to change a bathroom on each floor of the building to a gender-neutral space. The response we received from the building and other tenants has been overwhelmingly positive.

Rainbow Tribe – going beyond day-to-day roles, the KCANZ Rainbow Tribe is a dedicated employee group, which enables our people to actively contribute, and share ideas and experiences on how we can continue to progress our rainbow agenda.

Recruitment – in an effort to showcase our commitment, all recruitment materials now feature the Rainbow Tick accreditation. This practice extends beyond job platforms to our corporate website, reinforcing our dedication to diversity and inclusion from the very outset of the hiring process.

Why is this mahi important to you?

Inclusion and Diversity are not just buzzwords to us, they’re ingrained in the very fabric of how we do business. For over 150 years, the notion of ‘care’ has guided how we interact with our community, our planet and our people.

Joining Rainbow Tick has given us the opportunity to connect with like-minded companies and organizations, to share ideas and experiences. It was through these connections that the Newmarket Rainbow Tick Network was first established back in 2023. We were incredibly excited to host the very first connect and we look forward to many more.

Finally, within our own K-C network, we’ve been able to share not only our progress but also our learnings, inspiring our global and regional colleagues on their own I&D journeys.

What have the benefits for your workplace culture been?

Being a part of Rainbow Tick has made our people feel more empowered about the issues facing the community, enabling them to be advocates in their own lives and promoting a culture of openness and care internally, too.

Additionally, the implementation of I&D initiatives such as these increases our diversity of thinking, improving our ability to attract, retain and develop best talent, which leads to better business outcomes and deliverables for our customers and consumers.