Mainstreaming through Local Diversity Events

CSR Europe's Toolbox - Integrated WorkplaceIn most companies, diversity issues are mainly dealt with by HR managers only. In order to encourage operational managers to mainstream diversity within the company, the members of CSR Europe's "Mainstreaming Diversity in the Workplace" Laboratory decided to design a local multi-company event focusing on a relevant diversity issue, specific to the country where the event took place.

The pilot event took place in Brussels on November 17th, 2008. For this event, the steering committee (several companies, Danone, l'Oréal, Sodexo, Randstad, Adecco, GDF SUEZ) and two local partner organisations (Business & Society Belgium and SeniorFlex) chose to address current corporate expectations by tackling the issue of age diversity in the workplace. The event was thus entitled "Senior talents for competitive companies" or "how to manage properly our senior resources for a better performance".  

Twelve companies participated in the event, including Laboratory members. In total, 60 participants with varied functions (practitioners, marketing, customer services, HR managers) had an interactive discussion on Age Management.  As a result, many practical suggestions were gathered under the themes of Motivation, Preparing a Second Career, Intergenerational Connections, Recruitment, and Health & Safety. 

Video:

Senior Talents for Competitive Companies

17 November 2008, Brussels

 

More information about the event:

  1. Programme
  2. Presentation: "For a Different View of Mid-Career - A New Way of Managing Workers in their forties", Professor Annie Cornet, HRM, TQM, managementcompetenties Faculteit Toegepaste Economische Wetenschappen,Universiteit Hasselt
  3. Presentation: "Senior Talents for Competitive Companies", Professor Hilda Martens, Universiteit Hasselt
  4. Guidelines on how to launch a local event on Diversity in your own country  (PDF, English)
  5. Workshop outputs: