In a fast-paced working world, it is often difficult to keep up. The individual strengths of individuals can be overlooked. It is precisely this diversity that is enormously relevant for our future working world. This makes it all the more important to deal openly with the topics of diversity, equality and inclusion.
That tooworld's leading cosmetics company L'Oréalis actively committed to equal opportunities, inclusion and the promotion of women. The company is committed to multicultural and socioeconomic diversity and promotes the inclusion of people with (in)visible disabilities, regardless of skin and hair type, gender, culture, identity and age.
L'Oréal has created numerous internal networks with FAM@L'Oréal, OUT@L'Oréal, GEN@L'Oréal, HOME@L'Oréal and VisAble@L'Oréal, which are committed to the needs of ALL employees. Each individual, with their strengths and personal diversity, ensures a functioning and productive collaboration.
While yourselfL'Orealsuccessfully supports the LGBTQIA+ community with its OUT@L'Oréal initiative and creates a working environment in which everyone feels comfortable and can develop freely, HOME@L'Oréal is committed to ensuring that all employees treat each other with respect, regardless of their background and culture.
Why diversity in teams is so important for the success of a company
Experts agree: diversity is what makes a functioning team. While we used to often assume that assertiveness, rationality, resilience and authority were crucial factors for professional success, we now know that we have to think further.
Of course, the skills mentioned are still important for professional success. In addition to resilience, so-called soft skills such as communication, empathy and creativity are also required. Diversity is crucial for a successful future in the world of work.
A team in which everyone has the same skills and positions can hardly develop further. Stefan Geist, General Manager Communications & Engagement at L'Oréal, also emphasizes this:
“Studies show that diverse perspectives lead to significantly better innovations, more creativity and increased customer orientation. Companies that reflect the diversity of their customers achieve greater customer engagement. Diversity and inclusion are therefore crucial for the success and future viability of companies. The key is not just to reflect diversity, but to actively live it and ensure full participation. Diversity needs inclusion!”
Stefan Geister, General Manager Communications & Engagement at L'Oréal
As General Manager Communications & Engagement, Stefan is actively committed to diversity, inclusion and equal opportunities within the company.
With the motto “Create the beauty that moves the world”.L'Oreal allenGiving people the opportunity to develop their own individual beauty.
How the different generations complement each other perfectly
Diversity also means looking and including individuals equally - across generations. While long-standing employees enrich a team with their professional expertise and extensive experience, young talents can provide new impulses.
With GEN@L'Oréal, the company raises awareness of the different perspectives and needs of individual generations in order to strengthen cohesion. There should no longer be rigid limitations in which age determines career opportunities.
Sarah Aghahassani, Head of DE&I Networks at L'Oréal also knows the importance of cross-generational diversity in companies:
“Sarah: “Diversity promotes innovation and creativity by integrating different perspectives and experiences. First and foremost, it is important to us to create a working environment in which everyone feels comfortable.”
Sarah Aghahassani, Head of DE&I Networks bei L’Oréal
The numbers speak for themselves: In their annual employee survey, more than 90% of those surveyed said that they felt respected, regardless of gender, age, disability, sexual orientation, etc.
The ongoing discrimination must end
Discrimination should have no place in a modern working world. Unfortunately, things often look different in practice. The fact is: we are all individuals with very different stories. While some people need a hearing aid from birth, others may need a walking aid due to a walking disability, and others suffer from a chronic illness, many of us have an impairment that is not always visible to the outside world.
It is often difficult to see what challenges each individual is struggling with. A chronic illness can even go completely undetected. With VisAble@L'Oréal, the company wants to start right here and draw attention to the challenges that those affected have to deal with every day at work.
How can you as an individual promote diversity in the company?
Standing up and becoming active for minorities – that is often easier said than done. Because we all have to deal with numerous challenges in our everyday work that don't always make it easy for us. Nevertheless, we have to stand up for colleagues who have it a little harder than we do.
At this point, Stefan Geist gives a few helpful tips for everyday life:
“Everyone can actively stand up against discrimination and for equal opportunities. In companies, DE&I networks, like those at L'Oréal, could offer opportunities for participation. Outside the company, you can volunteer in NGOs that promote human rights and inclusion, or - like I did with VEREINITY eV - set up initiatives yourself. Even small gestures in everyday life, such as questioning stereotypes or standing up for those affected, can make a big difference.”
Stefan Geister, General Manager Communications & Engagement at L'Oréal
Standing up for others, not allowing yourself to be discouraged and, above all, talking about it: all of this is important for an inclusive society. We must not close ourselves off, but should remain open and show empathy, as Sarah Aghahassani also emphasizes: “Openness, empathy and the will to learn from each other are fundamental. Active listening and consideration of different perspectives create an inclusive society.”
Balancing career and family: How we can support working mothers
One thing is certain: a lot still needs to change in our society. There are still significantly more men in management positions and the gender pay gap is currently 18%.
AtL'OrealFor years, we have made it our responsibility to reduce the pay gap between men and women. And with success! In this country, the gender pay gap is almost zero.
Equality therefore also includes drawing attention to the role of working mothers, who find themselves in a constant balancing act between job and family. Single parents in particular have a particularly difficult time here.
A woman who knows about the challenges single mothers and young parents face in their working lives is Aisha Washington, Brand Director for Prada Beauty DACH. In the interview, she describes the everyday hurdles that she also encountered again and again:
“Child care is an enormous challenge. A lack of daycare places and afternoon care makes it difficult – especially for single parents like me – to work full-time. Added to this are social role models, financial burdens and a constant bad conscience. In order to overcome these hurdles, we need flexible working models, better care options and a cultural change in which men also take on more responsibility in the family.”
Aisha Washington, Brand Director for Prada Beauty DACH
It is important that we show ourselves to be tolerant of different family models and support young mothers and fathers instead of condemning them just because they may handle the balance between parenting and career differently than we do.
What we urgently need, according to Aisha Washington: “Tolerance. Stop the mutual condemnation of different family models. We need more daycare places, better full-time care and an upgrading of nursing professions. Politicians must recognize mothers as a valuable part of the economy.”
In Germany, there are already positive approaches with Parental Allowance Plus to offer young parents the opportunity to care for their child and at the same time continue to pursue career goals without one parent having to lose out. However, there is still a lot of catching up to do. Because employers in particular have to take action.
Aisha Washington sums up what companies can do to improve the situation for women:
“Flexible working models such as job sharing and home office are essential. Fathers should be encouraged to take parental leave and work part-time. Basically, we should get more mothers into leadership roles and close the pay gap. Networks for parents and support for child and holiday care are also central. At L'Oréal we have already implemented many of these measures and are continually working to improve even further.”
Aisha Washington, Brand Director for Prada Beauty DACH
With the FAM@L'Oréal initiative, L'Oréal offers, among other things, support and exchange opportunities for employees on parental leave and makes it easier for parents to balance work and family with modern working models.
We can all do our part to support diversity and equality in companies. Be it talking to colleagues about it, involving managers to talk about possible problems such as discrimination, or standing up for minorities who have a particularly difficult time being seen in everyday working life.
Only together can we really make a difference.
