Russell McVeagh recognised for Diversity & Inclusion
25 August 2017
Russell McVeagh has received a special Highly Commended accolade at last night's 20th Diversity Awards NZ Gala Dinner in
the Tomorrow's Workforce category.
The Award highlights the firm's success in recognising the vital importance of attracting and retaining the best talent
at all levels throughout the firm, and the focus on its future workforce.
"Employees today want to work in an organisation that values diversity and inclusion, enables flexible and varied work,
has an emphasis on collaborative networks, and is dedicated to staff health and well-being," says Russell McVeagh CEO Gary McDiarmid.
To meet those needs, Russell McVeagh has launched a wide range of initiatives to better align with the wants and needs
of both today's and tomorrow's workforce, and to create an exceptional workplace environment.
Russell McVeagh HR Director Lesley Elvidge says, "We want to recruit the best people and attract them to stay with our firm. It takes dedication at all levels to
openly share ideas and keep making incremental improvements for our firm to remain 'the' place to work."
A long-running scholarship programme open to all New Zealand schools and a campaign to educate people about the firm
before they join have been run to recruit top talent, while benefits on joining the firm include cutting-edge technology
ensuring a flexible working environment, and a comprehensive wellbeing programme that supports staff in taking care of
their mental and physical health. Sessions on mental health with comedian Mike King, held internally and at New Zealand
Law Schools across the country to facilitate open discussions about mental wellbeing, has been another valuable
initiative.
Over the past 12 months, the firm has launched a new parental leave policy, its first Corporate Social Responsibility
Report which further showcased the considerable amount of pro bono and charity work the firm undertakes for community
and non-profit groups, had its first Tuputoa intern, and continued its partnership with Global Women Champions for
Change. Russell McVeagh can also evidence that there is no gender pay gap across the firm.
Russell McVeagh would like to congratulate all of the other winners and nominees, and thank Diversity Works NZ for their
work celebrating organisations innovating in the field of diversity and championing diversity and inclusion in the
workplace.
ends