On 8 March, it is International Women's Day. This year's theme is "embrace equity". Where does Arxus stand on equity, and what actions are still needed? Equity is a theme that goes wider than just the difference between women and men. It is therefore high on our agenda, not only today but also in the future.
The difference between equality and equity is best illustrated by a metaphor of the monkey and the fish. To test their agility from an 'equality' point of view, both would be given the chance to climb a tree, for example. Looking at it through an equity lens, however, we test the monkey's skills by making him climb a tree, and those of the fish by making him swim in water.
According to Bo Van de Poel, HR Team Lead at Arxus, it is no longer enough for a company to just offer equal opportunities (equality). "We need to recognise that every employee has their own personality, interests, background and skills, and thus needs specific guidance and training to achieve the same result. Instead of highlighting these differences and trying to quell them, we should just appreciate and embrace them. That is why at Arxus we put a strong emphasis on personal coaching and the development of hard and soft skills, fully tailored to the employee. This allows all colleagues to develop their full potential based on their experience, talents and ambitions."
Our male colleagues also see equity as something important. "By working on equity, we work on diversity within our company. And precisely in that diversity lies the great strength of a team. Because if every colleague can be the best version of himself or herself, there is no longer any need for mutual conflict. Complementary teams, where everyone can make full use of her or his own strengths and talents, achieve success faster and easier," says Customer Success Manager Dirk Mattys.
Equity goes wider than gender. "Age, religion, origin, orientation: they are all equally important aspects to take into account. On top of that, everyone has their own character and talents. In our diverse society today, equity is no longer a nice-to-have. A diverse workforce is a must to come across as credible as a company to current and potential customers and employees," stresses Business Services Tribe Lead Tom Dierckens.
More diversity means more knowledge. "The more diverse people there are in the organisation, the more enriching insights. That leads to better long-term decisions. Diversity also encourages creativity and innovativeness. Problems are solved quickly when they are viewed from different angles," says Sales & Marketing Director Nicolas Viane, who therefore sees diversity as an important key to success.
At Arxus, we make many efforts to promote equity. "I like the fact that we all get to set our own goals. We are given the necessary time, resources and guidance to work towards them at our own pace, always interacting with the team lead. Being able to achieve your goal in that way gives you satisfaction," says HR Recruiter Nisrine Assaban. She has not been working at Arxus for very long, but already feels that she will be able to fully develop in our organisation. "Every colleague is given the opportunity to follow her or his passions and interests, in order to develop the ideal working style and contribute to the success of the company, agrees Marketing Manager Dries De Geeter.
The fact that equity is high on our priority list does not mean we can rest on our laurels. "We are not there yet but we are already on the right track. Management and HR are on the same page. Recruitments are made on the basis of a healthy mix of technical knowledge, a match with the Arxus values and above all: potential. We are not put off if, at first sight, there is no 1-to-1 match between applicant and vacancy. We look beyond the CV and always ask the question: what can this person bring to our company based on their own experience, personality, skills and goals?" says Tom Dierckens.
That our efforts for more equity are valuable for our company, everyone agrees. Those who can be 100% themselves and feel safe at work not only produce better work but also carry that into their personal lives. So let's embrace equity, today and in the future.