GDF Agenda - November 2009

Best Practices in Global Diversity

November 11th Networking Dinner
6:30 PM
Bryant Park Grill
40th Street & 5th Ave
New York, NY 10110

Please be our guest for a pre-meeting dinner. This gathering will be an opportunity to meet colleagues and share perspectives in advance of the formal meeting.

November 12th ORC Worldwide
8:30 AM – 4 PM
500 5th Avenue
5th Floor
New York, NY 10110

AGENDA
Thursday, November 12th- at ORC’s New York office

8:30 am Continental Breakfast

9:00 am Meeting begins

Welcome and Introductions and Best Practices Roundtable
To begin the day, we asked each member to share a topic for the group discussion, either a question for your peers or a practice to share. Among the topics discussed:

• Linking diversity to global talent management – results of latest ORC survey
• Metrics in a global environment – developing relevant local measurements
• Global employee assessments
• CSR/Sustainability and global diversity

Please send your topics to liz.macgillivray@orcww.com

Disability in the Global Context
December 3rd is the International Day of Persons with Disabilities. In advance of the day, we focused on efforts to address disability globally. We specifically reviewed legislative issues in some countries, the best practice areas of Disability Etiquette & Awareness, and global Employee Resource Groups (affinity groups). Nadine Vogel  reviewed best practices in globally supporting employees who either have a disability or who have a child or other dependent with special needs. 

Globalizing- Where Are You in the Process?
Mary Martinéz, ORC’s Director of Workforce Consulting, facilitated a workshop session to discuss ORC’s observations about the continuing evolution of global diversity initiatives, including an interactive session in which we shared ORC's new Best Practices Guide: Global Dimensions of Diversity- Differences That Make a Difference in 19 Emerging Market Countries. Looking forward, we will explore possible future research on local and regional best practices.

To assist members during the workshop they were also provided with a Map of Lesbian and Gay Rights in the World by the (ILGA) International Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans and Intersex Association.

12:30 pm Working Lunch

D&I Readiness around the World- A Snapshot of 47 Countries
Eric Peterson, SHRM’s Manager of Diversity & Inclusion Initiatives, presented the findings from their recent Global Diversity & Inclusion Study conducted by The Economist Intelligence Unit. He demonstrated a new tool which rates and ranks 47 countries on their readiness for implementing D & I programs.

You can find SHRM’s Global Diversity Readiness Index at http://www.shrm.org/gdri

Review of Developments in World Regions
The field of global diversity is developing rapidly, shaped by trends in global business, demographic changes, and evolving legislative and regulatory equality schemes. Liz MacGillivray, ORC Worldwide, provided an update on developments in different regions, comparing social/economic/cultural environments. D&I efforts in developed economies as well as the transition and developing economies were also discussed. 

Region of Focus- European Union
Deirdre Golden, Director of ORC’s Global Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Practice (London), updated members on the latest legislative, regulatory and social developments from the EU as well as in the member states. She also discussed how leading companies are responding to the diversity and inclusion challenges within the region.

4:00 pm Adjourn