John Keells Group awarded for long-term DEI initiatives

John Keells Group was recently awarded for its long-term initiatives in diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI).
John Keells Holdings PLC was the recipient of the award ‘Organisation promoting equity/equality and diversity of the year’ at the “Top50 Professional & Career Women Global Awards – Thirteenth Edition” 2023 held on June 17.

Women in Management (WIM) in collaboration with Women in Work, a partnership between the International Finance Corporation (IFC) and the Government of Australia, annually recognise extraordinary leaders and corporates who have demonstrated track records of accomplishment and impact in the workplace and society. 

The Group’s Chairperson Krishan Balendra speaking on the occasion said, “We, as a Group, know that our strength is our people. Being an inclusive organisation, we are home to a multitude of different minds and value the diversity, innovation, and creativity that is brought in by each person to every aspect of our business, which continues to aid us in our growth. We are honoured that our efforts to create an inclusive and equitable culture are being recognised and celebrated, and hope that platforms such as these encourage more organisations to prioritise Diversity, Equity & Inclusion.”

In 2015, JKH was the first Sri Lankan corporate to be inclusive of the LGBTIQ+ community through policy and awareness and continues to be a supportive ally.  In 2020, the Group launched its DE&I brand ONE JKH, working in the 3 pillars of increasing female participation in the workforce and value chains, inclusivity of the LGBTIQ+ community, and increasing career opportunities for Persons with Disabilities. In 2021, the Group set a 5-year goal to increase female participation in the workforce to 40% (from 30% at the time of setting the goal) and has been working on a myriad of initiatives to reach this goal. 

This includes the launch of 100-days of equal parental leave (a groundbreaking initiative aimed at  eliminating the discrimination associated with recruiting women, due to potential concerns on maternity leave, and aid the workforce outside of John Keells by assisting  their partners to return to their respective workplaces or join the workforce following their maternity leave), employer-supported childcare facilities, women-centric training, mentoring and sponsoring of female talent, initiatives to increase women in leadership and non-traditional roles.  Further, one of the latest initiatives include the offering of free sanitary napkins to female employees along with awareness sessions, across the Group, on menstrual health, aimed at breaking the societal stigma around menstruation.

While the Group currently does provide employment to Persons With Disabilities  (PWD), the organisation launched its the PWD policy, in January 2023, a phased-out roadmap that includes the appointment of Supported Employment Officers, identification of job roles in all our sectors which can be fulfilled by those within the diverse disability categories with reasonable accommodation, and making the necessary infrastructure changes required, to make our physical and digital spaces accessible to PDW.