Woolworths Group Limited: Diversity and Inclusion Case Study

This presentation provides a case study on Woolworths Group Limited, focusing on their diversity and inclusion initiatives. It discusses the company's efforts to create an inclusive work environment and highlights their partnerships with the National Disability Recruitment Coordinator program. The presentation also offers recommendations for further enhancing diversity and inclusion in the company.


Emotional
Intelligence, Cultural
Intelligence And Diversity
Name:
Institutional Affiliation:

Overview
of the
Firm
 Woolworths Group Limited is a
retail company based in
Australia
 It operates various segments
including Hotels and BIGW,
Endeavor Drinks Group, New
Zealand Supermarkets, and the
Australian Food and Petrol
segment
 The New Zealand Supermarkets
engages in the procurement of
liquor products and food for
resale to consumers in New
Zealand
 Australian Food and Petroleum
segment is responsible for
procuring petroleum and food
products for redistribution to
Australian consumers (Reuters
2019)

Continuatio
n: Company
Overview
 The Endeavour Drinks
Group, in contrast,
specializes in liquor
products and sells them in
the Australian market
 The BIGW sells discount
goods in the Australian
market
 The hotel segment
provides the company’s
target market with a
variety of hospitality and
leisure services
 Such as gaming,
entertainment,
accommodation, alcohol,
and food.

Why I
selected
Woolworths
as My Case
Study
 Woolworths Group Limited
embraces different forms of
diversity.
 Therefore, it is dedicated to
creating a work environment
that is not only inclusive and
safe but also where all staffs
are handled with respect,
courtesy, and dignity
(FlexCareers Pty Ltd 2019).
 The company signed The
Fresh Start Agreement with
the Australian government
 The aim of the agreement is
to enhance the company’s
effort in creating an inclusive
work environment
(FlexCareers Pty Ltd 2019)

Continuation
 The company was
rewarded in 2018 because
of its inclusive workforce
 Thomson Reuters
acknowledged it as the top
company in Diversity and
Inclusion in Australia.
 it was ranked 14 out of
7,000 companies as per
the 2018 Diversity &
Inclusion Index
(Woolworths Group Limited
2018)
 The company also
understands the
importance of training and
developing its staffs

Disability
Employment in
Woolworths
Group Limited
 Woolworths supports and
encourages the recruitment
and hiring of individuals with
a disability.
 The company partners with
the National Disability
Recruitment Coordinator
(NDRC) program
 The program helps in
securing employment
opportunities to members of
the Disability Employment
Service (FlexCareers Pty Ltd
2019).
 Members of these program
are given priority incase
there is a job opening in the
company


 However, the company also provides
employment opportunities to those who are not
members of the Disability Employment Service
 This group do not need support to obtain
employment
 Therefore, they have to apply online for the
advertised job vacancies
 But are required to provide reasonable
justification to have their disability
accommodated in their workplace
Continuation: Disability
Employment


 I have obtained information regarding the
company’s diversity from various websites.
 The sources details the company’s diversity
initiatives and how it promotes them
 The company’s diverse policy also outlines the
company’s efforts to having an inclusive
workplace environment
Sources

Critique of the
Diversity
Initiative
 The initiative to employ people
with disabilities has been
successful
 The company was rewarded for
its inclusive workforce in 2018
by Thomas Reuters
 Its partnership with Disability
Employment Service has helped
it in increasing the number of
people with disability
 However, it is worthwhile to
note that the severity and type
of disability undermine the
hiring decisions by the company
 For instance, it somewhat
challenging to employ those
with invisible disabilities
including intellectual or
psychiatric disabilities

Recommendation
s
 Employers in the 21st- century
acknowledge the importance
of an inclusive and diverse
workforce
 Henry et al.(2014) note that
most companies’ diversity
efforts revolve around gender,
race, age, and ethnicity while
giving little attention to
disability efforts
 For this reason, more attention
needs to be diverted to
disability as a positive
development
 Woolworths should find out the
contributions made by people
with disabilities and increase
their numbers significantly.

Continuation:
Recommendati
on
 The organization should also
provide internship and training
opportunities to enhance the
integration of people with
disability in the company’s
workforce
 It should also provide
mentorship programs including
externships and job shadowing
for people with disabilities
 The organization should also
invest in technological
solutions to widen
opportunities to individuals
with disabilities
 Technology is crucial in
providing a level playing field
for people with disabilities and
their counterparts

 Reference ListlexCareers Pty Ltd 2019, Diversity at Big W and the Woolworths
Group. Available From: <
https://www.flexcareers.com.au/employers/big-w/articles/diversity-at-big-w-and-t
he-woolworths-group
> [12 May 2019]
 Henry, KD, Petkauskos, K, Stanislawzyky, J & Vogt, J 2014,’ Employer-
recommended strategies to increase opportunities for people with disabilities’,
Journal of Vocational Rehabilitation, vo.41, pp.237-248. DOI:10.3233/JVR-140716
 Reuters, T 2019, Profile: Woolworths Group Ltd(WOW.AX). Available from: <
https://www.reuters.com/finance/stocks/company-profile/WOW.AX> [12 May
2019]
 Woolworths Group Limited 2018, Woolworths Group named top Australian
company in 2018 Thomson Reuters Diversity & Inclusion(D & 1) Index. Available
From: <
https://www.woolworthsgroup.com.au/page/community-and-responsibility/corpor
ate-responsibility-news-updates/people/woolworths-group-named-top-australian-
company-in-2018-thomson-reuters-diversity-and-inclusion-di-index
> [12 May 2019]
Reference List