John Deere has been recognised for its commitment to diversity and inclusion for the third time
Diversity Council Australia (DCA) has awarded John Deere Australia and New Zealand Inclusive Employer Status for 2023-24, in recognition of the company’s commitment to diversity and inclusion. Source: Timberbiz
To celebrate Inclusion at Work Week, DCA announced the 82 employers to earn a place on the list, with John Deere joining a small number of companies to receive the recognition three times, having been included in 2021-22 and 2022-23.
To make the list, participants must prove their commitment to diversity and inclusion by having employees complete an in-depth survey to map the state of inclusion in their workplace and produce results that exceed national benchmarks on a series of key measures.
John Deere Australia and New Zealand Managing Director, Luke Chandler, said achieving Inclusive Employer Status for the third year in a row was a proud moment.
“Each year, this assessment has provided us with valuable insight on where to focus our efforts to ensure we offer an inclusive workplace for everyone,” he said.
“An inclusive workplace is not the result of the actions of one, but the actions of many.”
As Head of People and Culture at John Deere Australia and New Zealand, Camilla Kelly has led the company’s Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) journey.
“DEI is multi-layered, requiring time, dedication, and a holistic approach to fully understand its complexities,” Ms Kelly said.
“It can challenge deeply held beliefs and raise difficult questions. It’s not about checkboxes or quotas, but rather it’s interwoven in everything we do and everything we want to be.
“We have taken the time and energy to expand knowledge across the company, not just talk.
“Our policies, talent selection criteria and workplace practices have been updated, including introducing industry-leading gender-neutral parental leave.
“We’ve also worked on developing leadership capabilities and implementing DEI frameworks that empower everyone to lead initiatives that move the needle on DEI.”
John Deere’s Australia Aftermarket team recently led such an initiative, holding an event at the Brisbane office to celebrate World Inclusion Day. Staff were encouraged to share their personal stories, food from their cultural backgrounds, and discuss perspectives on what inclusion means to them.
“Inclusion is all about creating a work environment where everyone feels respected,” Aftermarket Marketing & Communications Specialist, Laura Pozniak-Elphick, said.
“You should feel like you can bring your true self to work every day, and John Deere really embraces that.
“While your colleagues always try to be their most professional selves, it’s important to remember they are individuals with families and lives outside work. Someone could be smiling on the outside but struggling on the inside, so we just need to be mindful of each other and be as kind and inclusive as possible.
“If your corporate values are rooted in diversity and inclusion, that extends to your ability to recruit the best people, which ultimately elevates your whole business. I think there’s also a halo effect where if a company is a good corporate citizen, they’re more likely to be offering their products and services in the best possible way.”
With innovation as one of John Deere’s key values, Ms Kelly said diversity and inclusion was paramount to the company’s success.
“As a smart industrial company, we need both diverse talent and an inclusive culture to develop this competitive advantage,” she said.
“Fostering genuine, sustained diversity in the workplace takes many years and a genuine heartfelt commitment from all staff. It’s important that business leaders take charge to lead and empower other staff to follow.”
