Arxus Embraces Equity ... today and beyond🦸♀️
March 8 is International Women's Day. This year's theme is "Embrace Equity. We wanted to know what their take on this is: how far is Arxus in terms of equity, and what actions are still needed? Equity is a theme that is broader than just the difference between women and men. It is therefore high on their agenda, not only today but also afterwards.
The difference between equality and equity can best be illustrated by the metaphor of the monkey and the fish. To test their agility from an equality standpoint, both would be given the opportunity to climb a tree, for example. Viewed through an equity lens, however, we test the monkey's skills by having him climb a tree, and those of the fish by having him swim in water.
Embracing differences
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 recognize 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 emphasizing and trying to squash these differences, we should just appreciate and embrace them. That is why at Arxus we put strong emphasis on personal coaching and the development of hard and soft skills, fully tailored to the employee. This allows all colleagues to develop to their full potential based on their experience, talents and ambitions."
No mutual struggle
Male colleagues also hold equity in high regard. "By working on equity, we are working 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.
More than gender
Equity goes broader than gender. "Age, religion, origin, orientation: all are equally important aspects to consider. 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 for a company to come across as credible to current and potential customers and employees," emphasizes Business Services Tribe Lead Tom Dierckens.
Various perspectives
More diversity means more knowledge. "The more diverse people there are in the organization, the more enriching insights. That leads to better long-term decisions. Diversity also encourages creativity and innovativeness. Problems are solved faster when they are viewed from different angles," says Sales & Marketing Director Nicolas Viaene, who therefore sees diversity as an important key to success.
Choosing your own goals
At Arxus, they put a lot of effort into promoting equity. "I like that we all get to set our own annual 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 goals in this way is very satisfying," says HR Consultant Nisrine Abassan. She has not yet been working at Arxus for very long, but already has the feeling that she will be able to fully develop in our organization. "Every colleague gets 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.
Looking at potential
Just because equity is high on our priority list does not mean they are resting on our laurels. "We are not there yet but we are on the right track. Management and HR are on the same page. Recruitment is done based on 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 the applicant and the 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 efforts for more equity are valuable to their company, everyone agrees. Those who can be 100% themselves and feel safe at work not only do better work but also carry that into their personal lives. So let's embrace equity with Arxus, today and beyond.
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