Title
Contract for GRU Diversity and Inclusion Consultant Services (B)
**This item is for informational purposes.**
Explanation
The utility industry as a whole is battling labor issues that include: an aging workforce, the exodus of skilled/technically trained employees, and the lack of qualified job applicants. To magnify concerns, this industry has a perceived culture that is not diverse or inclusive.
A best practice in companies today is to have a workforce that mirrors the community it serves. There are many benefits to adhering to this business model, including building trust among customers and other stakeholders, better understanding of customers’ needs to provide services to meet those needs, and enhancing communication with all segments of the community.
Despite diversity recruitment and retention efforts, there remains a gap in our workforce in regard to women and minorities. In order to be successful in the future, a culture of inclusion must be created, one that permeates from executive leadership throughout every area of the utility. We must create an environment that allows and requires every employee to fully contribute to our success. Employee engagement, productivity and efficiency, synergy in teams, and brand loyalty all increase when all employees feel included.
Our goal is to have engaged employees, which means we must have a culture that is both diverse and inclusive. To achieve this goal, we need to fully understand where we are, what gaps exist and then develop strategies to close those gaps related to diversity and inclusion.
In an effort to build a diverse workforce and culture of inclusion, funds were approved in the 2018 budget by the General Manager and City Commission to obtain proposals and contract with a professional services firm specializing in Diversity and Inclusion.
GRU Staff (i.e., Yvette Carter, Community & Government Relations Officer; Glenda Russell, Community Relations Coordinator; Cheryl McBride, Chief People O...
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