Lifting up employees: CO-OP forms new Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Council

As companies grapple with how to maintain their culture while supporting their employees (many of whom are now working remotely) during COVID-19, now may be the right time to consider establishing a Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DE&I) Council.

DE&I Councils, like the one CO-OP recently formed, are tasked with guiding the company’s policies and practices in ways that ensure all employees are celebrated for who they are. Particularly now, as employees are physically isolated from one another, DE&I is more important than ever.

Comprised of employees from across the company, CO-OP’s new DE&I Council met for the first time in February to discuss the cultural successes and challenges at CO-OP today, establish goals for the future and set a timeline for Council initiatives going forward.

To help guide the discussion, CO-OP President and CEO Todd Clark gave his perspective on why inclusion is vitally important to CO-OP. Attendees also heard from guest speaker Angela Russell, CUNA Mutual’s VP, Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, who shared best practices that are enhancing the lives of employees at CUNA Mutual today.

 

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