Exploring Unilever’s Global Culture: Understanding their Diversity and Inclusion Initiatives

Introduction

Unilever is a multinational consumer goods company that operates in over 190 countries around the world. As one of the largest FMCG companies globally, Unilever has a massive workforce consisting of people from diverse backgrounds, cultures, and nationalities. The company has been recognized for its initiatives in establishing a diverse and inclusive work culture. This blog post delves deeper into Unilever’s global culture, examining the company’s diversity and inclusion initiatives.

The Importance of Diversity and Inclusion in the Workplace

Diversity and inclusion in the workplace do not only make good business sense, but it also has broader social and economic benefits. In today’s globalized world, having a diverse workforce helps organizations understand and cater to a wide range of customer needs. Additionally, having a diverse team results in a variety of perspectives that can translate into more innovative solutions to complex problems. Inclusivity, on the other hand, involves ensuring that people within the organization feel valued, respected, and included in decision-making processes. This produces a sense of community and shared purpose, boosting employee engagement and productivity.

Unilever’s Diversity and Inclusion Initiatives

Unilever has taken significant steps in fostering diversity and inclusion in its workforce. The company has a global Diversity and Inclusion strategy that involves five main areas: Gender balance, LGBTQIA+, disability, multicultural and intergenerational diversity. One of the initiatives that Unilever has implemented is to offer unconscious bias training to its employees worldwide. This training aims to help employees overcome their unconscious biases, resulting in a more inclusive work environment. Unilever also launched a policy that mandates a diverse candidate slate for open positions and a gender-balanced shortlist.

Unilever has a scholarship fund that provides financial assistance to students from underrepresented communities pursuing higher education in business-related fields. This scholarship is available to students from different regions around the world. Additionally, the company has an employee resource group (ERG) for women to support their career development and advancement. In 2021, in response to the Black Lives Matter Movement, Unilever pledged to double the number of black managers in the company by 2025.

Case Study: Unilever’s Project Anyone

Unilever’s Project Anyone is an initiative aimed at challenging the advertising industry to be more representative, both in front of and behind the camera. The campaign’s objective is to bring about more accurate depictions of people from different backgrounds in advertisements. Project Anyone came about after research revealed that only 3% of creative directors in the advertising industry are black, and that in the UK, 40% of people do not feel represented in advertising.

The company has challenged its advertising agencies to ensure that diverse casting and representation are included in all Unilever ads by 2023. Unilever’s campaign has inspired other brands to take action, leading to industry-wide improvements in representation and diversity.

Conclusion

Unilever’s diversity and inclusion initiatives show that the company is committed to creating a work environment that values and celebrates differences. By providing resources and support to employees from diverse backgrounds, the company is taking steps to ensure that it empowers everyone within their organization. Unilever is using its size and influence to bring about positive changes in the advertising industry and began a conversation about the representation of people from different backgrounds. Companies that prioritize diversity and inclusion stand to benefit from a range of perspectives, experiences, and skills that are critical for driving innovation, growth, and success in today’s globalized business environment.