Tolerance
I joined the LifeSearch People & Culture team 11 years ago and have focused on culture and engagement for the last six. I’ve loved taking a lead role in shaping policies and progress around that magical world. Tolerance.
It’s an important word. It’s a steely first step to somewhere new. To acceptance, maybe.
And the longer I’m in this job, the more I realise tolerance cannot stay static. As much as I now feel respected and valued for who I am, there are others still fighting to be seen, heard and accepted.
So it’s always back to that crucial first step: tolerance.
Evolution
The most recent LifeSearch diversity study shows our company make-up is a microcosm of what’s going on out there. We now have ‘Searchers' who self-identify in many non-typical ways and we are have three times more LGBTQ+ employees than the national average, according to 2019 ONS figures.
We can’t stop there, though. In a recent ‘cultural reboot’ I held 52 LifeSearch roadshows over six months to collaboratively re-explore our company values. I recognise we need to constantly redefine our values and keep them relevant in real time.
Last year we invited three keynote speakers, including transgender DJ Stephanie Hirst, to address the company and help us workshop new methods to embed greater tolerance in a shifting world.
We’ve rolled advertising icon Jo Arscott’s Courageous Conversations concept into our culture and now encourage LifeSearchers to ask awkward questions of colleagues where differences seem apparent.
What is Diwali? Do you identify as female? What do you eat in Wales? Wherever barriers or knowledge gaps exists, familiarity is a half a step towards tolerance. From there, in my experience anyway, it’s not much further to acceptance.
My vision
When I look out into industry, I see a major focus on increasing access to insurance products and services for marginalised communities. The emphasis on this is hugely welcome.
But I think we can do more on the inside. I want anyone who’s considering a career here to be able to see themselves in the picture today. Right now.
For that, we need role models and beacons that were painfully absent in my early days. We need conversations that bring differences to light instead of hushing them down.
I’m not sure we have that. Hand on heart would you say life insurance is an accepting career destination for anyone, equally?
There are groups, movements and initiatives working for progress on this front, but there’s still much room to open up. To diversify. We can all go further to be tolerant and facilitate the ambitions of would-be insurance talent, no matter their descriptors and backgrounds.
