HomeMy WebLinkAboutCAO-06-031 - Diversity in the Workplace Committee Update1
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REPORT
Report To: Finance and Corporate Services Committee
Date of Meeting: May 1, 2006
Submitted By: Tami Turner, Manager, Employee Strategies
Prepared By: Jana Miller, Writer
Ward(s) Involved:
Date of Report: May 1, 2006
Report No.: CAO-06-031
Subject: DIVERSITY IN THE WORKPLACE COMMITTEE UPDATE
RECOMMENDATION:
For Information Only.
BACKGROUND:
Recognizing the need to improve the diversity of employees working at the City of Kitchener, a
committee of staff and community volunteers, known as the Diversity in the Workplace
Committee (DWC), has been struck to look at how the Corporation can become more inclusive
and representative of the diverse community which we serve.
The goal of DWC, which first began to meet in early 2005, is to create a corporate culture at the
City of Kitchener that is more inclusive and representative of the diversity of our
community. That diversity includes gender, sexual orientation, persons with disabilities, visible
minorities, immigrants, and aboriginals.
REPORT:
The purpose of this report is to provide Council with background information about the
committee. An accompanying power point presentation will provide a complete overview of the
accomplishments of the Diversity in the Workplace Committee to date.
DWC consists of 14 staff members from across-section of the Corporation and three non-staff,
community representatives. There are six sub-committees of DWC, all of which are tasked with
examining specific diversity related issues and making recommendations to the full DWC on
improvements the city can make to current practices and policies. Each subcommittee has a
goal that it is working toward achieving.
The sub-committees and their goals are as follows:
1. Community Partnerships: The goal of this sub-committee is to build mutually beneficial
partnerships with local non-profit organizations that assist New Canadians to secure
employment in their fields of expertise.
2. Trainin :The goal of this sub-committee is to research and examine opportunities to
provide City of Kitchener employees with a variety of diversity training which will lead to
effective anti-oppressive organizational change.
3. Policy: The goal of this sub-committee is to create policies and procedures which
address the needs of corporate diversification.
4. Business and Community Outreach: The goal of this sub-committee is to contact other
organizations in the community and determine what steps they have taken with respect
to diversity in the workplace.
5. Communications: The goal of this sub-committee is to examine how the Corporation can
better communicate with an increasingly diverse population.
6. Recruiting and Retention: The goal of this sub-committee is to explore, develop and
implement new proactive and inclusive recruitment and retention initiatives.
FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS:
Financial implications are unknown at this time. The Diversity in the Workplace Committee
continues to work toward developing future initiatives and programming for City staff to
participate in, as well as related new internal practices and policies. Costs for these
initiativeslprogramstyill become known as they are developed and implemented.
COMMUNICATIONS:
The Diversity in the Workplace Committee is working with Corporate Communications staff (via
the Communications Subcommittee) to develop and implement a full internal communications
plan to make staff aware of the City's progress toward developing new practices, polices,
programs and services related to diversity.
Tami Turner, Manager, Employee Strategies