For Nieves,
diversity is directly linked to inclusion. The core values at IBM are talent, a
good working environment that serves diverse market places and the community
itself and this is why companies like IBM have placed so much emphasis in its
corporate culture and diversity policy .
IBM was
born in 1896, of course well before the company launched its first computers
and laptops in 1950s. However, IBM was already a pioneer in diversity issues.
In 1899, the company hired the first women and black people and 15 years later,
they hired the first person with a disability. In 1953, IBM launched the Equal
Opportunities Policy well before the US launched a federal law against several
types of discrimination in the 1960s. IBM was already establishing the pillars
for a future diversity policy which they firmly believe in and promote through
its senior management. This is the key to enforce such policy.
In terms of multicultural environments, IBM believes that inclusion of all types of people is essential given the fact that we should recognize that society is very diverse and this will contribute to social cohesion. During the conference, Nieves Delgado mentioned the difficulty of understanding each other in a multicultural environment. She mentioned the fact "that no one understands each other due to a problem of under communication". Although we all speak the same language we may not transmit the same message with our level of English. In some cases, it was also difficult for her to be a business woman in certain Middle East countries.
In other
areas such as GLBT, people with disabilities or work/life integration, IBM is
doing a great effort to include these members of the society. For example, IBM
offers sabbatical periods given that Generation X employees value free time at
the top of their priority list. Making work compatible with your personal life does only refer to looking after children.
IBM a real pioneer in Diversity Management.
Dear WIB and ieOut,
Congratulations for this conference! In my opinion you have invited "the" pioneer company in Diversity Management in Spain!
In the United States IBM has plenty of prices and mentions that accredit them as leaders in managing difference. They lead all the rankings that foundations and minorities activists develop to encourage best practices related to diversity management. USA is a very diverse country since very long time ago and a proper Diversity Management, like the one conducted by IBM, is a must.
Spain is different! Due to the dictatorship and the slower development pace until the 80s our country has been a very local and "undiverse" place, at least in its labor force. Women have reached a real presence at work only in the past 20 years; in 1998 (only ten years ago) there were some more than 637,000 foreigners living in Spain, now they are more than 4,000,000; we still tend to think that young people are lazy and that sexual orientation is a personal issue not to be shared at the workplace.
Nowadays in Spain, most foreign multinationals, although sharing the same recognitions as IBM in Anglo-Saxon countries, limit their diversity management scope to Women family balance (they forget men family balance) and cultural diversity.
March 8th, a few years ago, Amparo Moraleda was participating in a TV debate and when inquired over women rights she answered something like "... the only thing I know is that talent is scarce, and IBM wants and needs the best talent. Women mean approximately half part of work force in Spain and IBM cannot afford to do without anybody..."
The President of IBM was clever and brave to talk about diversity when nobody dared to do so, but now that talent is SO scarce and we are all competing in this global race, they are the best positioned in Spain to attract and retain the brightest talent.