On March 8th, the world is celebrating International Women’s Day. Activities are organized across the globe as all kinds of groups, organizations and companies team up to uphold women’s achievements, recognize challenges and focus greater attention on women’s rights and gender issues.
Sadly, these initiatives are still very much necessary. According to the World Economic Forum, the “economic and social consequences of the pandemic and geopolitical conflict have paused progress” and parity will not be reached for another 132 years.
Gender equality at Foundever®
Encouraging diversity, inclusivity and equity is part of our core values. Over half of Foundever associates are women, and we’re committed to being a workplace where women thrive — which is one of IWD’s primary missions.
One important initiative in this field is the Foundever Women in Tech program that was launched in Costa Rica to promote gender equity. The program promotes and facilitates the inclusion of women in technical accounts where female participation has been traditionally low. It also provides scholarships to female collaborators from non-technical accounts to develop the necessary skills to opt for technical positions within the organization. To further increase the percentage of women in STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) areas, Foundever encourages women to enroll in our tech training programs and commits to raising the number of female associates working in tech positions.
Another way to work in favor of gender parity is the Women at Foundever employee resource group for women and allies to women. There are chapters across our global offices doing incredible work to mentor, empower and support women in the workplace.
The missions of Women at Foundever are to:
- Positively impact the professional and personal lives of people who identify as women.
- Create an inclusive space for all people who identify as women.
- Ensure that women empowerment is part of our organization’s culture.
- Promote authentic inclusion through systemic change and strategic alignment.
- Create a safe space for sharing and learning.
- Identify, develop and mentor talented women at all levels.
Award winner
We not only comply with but try to outperform local policies regarding equal opportunities and gender equality. In El Salvador, Foundever became the first company in the contact center industry to be certified IEBI (Inclusion and Equality Business Index) in 2017 and has since received its recertification, being qualified as a company that “complies in an outstanding manner.”
In France, Foundever achieved an exceptional 94% result in the 2022 “Professional Equity Index,” based on gaps in pay raises, promotions, the percentage of women getting a raise after their maternity leave and the number of women among the 10 top earners.
In December 2022, Foundever (formerly Sitel Group®) was awarded a Comparably Award for Best Company for Women in the U.S. (as well as Best Company for Diversity) which recognizes companies that are implementing positive culture changes within their organization.
Flexible work model
Last but certainly not least, Foundever offers its associates a highly flexible work model called CX Everywhere combining at-home options and a network of hubs (locations where they work, train and socialize), ensuring a high degree of flexibility and inclusivity. Over 100,000 of our associates work from home or as part of a hybrid model.
One step beyond
Every year, International Women’s Day has a special theme. This year, it’s Embrace Equity. The notion of equity goes beyond gender. People start from different places, so true inclusion and belonging require equitable action. As one woman put it, “Equality is giving everybody shoes. Equity is giving them shoes that fit.” Let’s all work towards this ambitious goal!
We’re passionate about becoming the world’s most inclusive BPO provider. Learn more about our Environmental, Social & Governance (ESG) strategy and how we prioritize inclusion and diversity amongst our associates to ensure we provide the best quality experiences and innovative services for our clients.