Global Inclusion Week
Challenge:
Creating an inclusive work environment where employees can thrive and be their authentic selves is one of the pillars of our diversity, equity and inclusion strategy. This means making sure all voices are heard and valued. One way we do this is through education. Global Inclusion Week helps us accelerate our progress by providing educational opportunities and engagement around diversity, equity and inclusion.
Actions:
Inspired by the UN World Day for Cultural Diversity for Dialogue and Development, as well as the CEO Action for Diversity & Inclusion’s “Day of Understanding,” SAS Global Inclusion Week offers opportunities to learn by engaging in conversations and finding inspiration from others, and prompts action. We get to know our SAS colleagues from over 50 countries better and strengthen our culture of inclusion and belonging. Our Inclusion Week theme is “Educate, Engage, Inspire, and Act” to deepen our diversity & inclusion knowledge, engage in candid conversations about progress made and discuss how to accelerate progress within SAS and our communities.
Activities during Global Inclusion Weeks have included: Executive Panels, Employee Inclusion Groups (EIGs) led discussions, trivia games, an employee-created theme song and global recipe book, interactive data art experience, an employee curated DEI media list, a virtual privilege walk, and more!
The events and resources are planned and developed by a team of global employee volunteers who are supported by their managers and the DEI team. Executives and managers champion Inclusion Week by encouraging their teams to participate live or on demand.
Outcomes:
We had employees from global offices attend live and on-demand, representation from all seven of our EIGs, and participation from executives and global managers. Inclusion Week increased traffic to our DEI pages and resources and prompted more conversation on our internal social channels.
At its core, Global Inclusion Week is about people. It is a terrific opportunity for SAS to collectively consider and celebrate how our greatest strengths lie in our diversity and the individual capabilities that brings to bear – as well as the good that we can do for each other, our customers, and the world, when we unite in mission and purpose.