Diversity and Inclusion
| Vision |
|---|
To be the UK’s most inclusive business |
| Mission |
We create an inclusive environment and celebrate diversity with our Partners, Customers and the communities we serve. We’re at our best when we feel welcomed and free to be ourselves. Our business is our business, and our differentiated culture drives our Purpose with Belonging and Inclusion at the heart of who we are as a Partnership. |
| Purpose |
Happier People - To be the most inclusive business for our Partners |
Happier Business - To be the most inclusive business for our Customers |
Happier World - To be the most inclusive business for the communities we serve |
Why Belonging & Inclusion are essential
Inclusion in the Partnership isn't just about having a diverse mix of Partners in our teams. It's about creating an environment where every Partner feels valued, respected, and included – regardless of their background, identity, or differences.
It's about fostering a culture where every Partner has equal opportunities to contribute, grow, and succeed.
Fosters creativity and innovation
Imagine a Partnership where every voice is heard, and every perspective valued - that's the benefit of inclusion. When diverse minds come together, we spark creativity, innovation, and a variety of solutions.
Partner engagement
When Partners feel a sense of belonging and psychological safety, they'll be more committed and engaged. It's like having a big, supportive family at work – meaning Partners are in it for the long haul.
Attracts top talent
By embracing diversity, we're casting a wider net for talent. It's not just about hiring the best – it's about finding the best fit for our teams. And diversity brings a wealth of skills, experiences, and fresh perspectives.
Enhancing decision-making
Diverse teams make better decisions. When we've got a mix of backgrounds and viewpoints, we're less likely to fall into groupthink. This means smarter choices and better outcomes for the Partnership.
Meeting our customers’ needs
Our customers are diverse, so our teams should be too. An inclusive Partnership understands that diversity isn't just a checkbox – it's good business. By reflecting the diversity of our customer base, we're better equipped to meet our customers’ needs and keep them coming back.
Trust
Inclusion isn't just about what happens inside our Partnership; it's about how we show up in the world. When we prioritise inclusion, we're not just building a better Partnership – we’re building trust with our customers and our community.
Our strategic pillars
Our nine Networks
Ability
We champion ability and disability in everybody so we can be ourselves and feel included.
Care Experienced
Connecting Partners who identify as care experienced, their carers and allies.
Carers
Supporting and building awareness and understanding of the needs of Partners who are carers.
Faith & Belief
Educating, celebrating and increasing awareness of all faiths and beliefs.
Gender Equality (GEN)
Championing equal opportunities for all Partners, regardless of gender.
LinkAGES
Cultivating awareness, building understanding, and promoting involvement around age diversity and inclusion.
Pride in the Partnership (PiPs)
Providing support and safe spaces for LGBTQ+ Partners and allies.
UNITY
Providing representation for all ethnically-diverse Partners, enabling a meaningful Partner experience, and promoting equity and inclusion.
Working Parents
Supporting working parents at every stage of the parenting journey and influencing Partnership policy for working parents.
Our successes
External recognition
The Partnership was recognised with Working Dads Employer award In June 2023, the Partnership brought home the Leadership and Culture Award from the Working Dads Employer Awards, which made us extremely proud! These awards were set up to celebrate and recognise employers that are carrying out great work to support working dads. Standouts for us in this area are our equal parenthood policy, especially when compared with other businesses. The Working Parents network and the Dad Club (a Working Parents network peer support group) have also played an important part in embedding the familyfriendly culture of the Partnership. FTSE Women Leaders The FTSE Women Leaders Review is the independent, business-led framework supported by the government. Recommendations were made by them to improve the representation of women in leadership teams and on boards. The scope of the review was extended beyond FTSE 350 companies to include the largest 50 private companies in the UK by sales in the 2022/2023 review, which meant we were able to participate by submitting our data. In 2023, we were delighted to be ranked first, against 50 of the largest private companies in the UK. We were also ranked first across the retail sector in their FTSE 350 and Top 50 Private Companies sector analysis. JLP named Fostering Friendly Employer of the Year In October 2023, we won Fostering Friendly Employer of the Year at the Fostering Excellence Awards. We were thrilled to be called an ‘exceptional supporter’ of the fostering community.
Earlier in 2023, we also became the largest organisation to receive Fostering Friendly Employer accreditation by The Fostering Network. After working closely with leading national charity Kinship, we announced the expansion of our foster leave policy to include kinship carers. Kinship care is when a child lives full-time or most of the time with a relative or close family friend, usually because their parents aren’t able to care for them. Kinship carers now have the opportunity to take up to one week’s paid leave, pro-rated within a 12-month rolling period.
Bullying, discrimination and harassment policy
Our new policy, along with our ‘It’s never banter’ video, in April 2023 was launched to raise awareness of what could be perceived as bullying, discrimination and harassment in the workplace. By using the voices of our Partners, we shared some of the everyday experiences we could encounter, while creating a collective understanding of unacceptable behaviours. The video was launched alongside the publication of our updated policy on bullying, discrimination and harassment and changes made to reflect Partner feedback.
Black Pound Day and Black History Month
Supporting Black Pound Day and Black History Month in John Lewis shops Black Pound Day was founded by Swiss, a UK music artist and member of So Solid Crew. It encourages customers to make a conscious decision to support local black-owned businesses on the first Saturday of each month. In October 2023, Swiss brought together 22 black owned brands for a Black Pound Day pop-up shop at John Lewis Stratford. The selection included home products through to beauty and supported the shop’s Black History Month celebrations.
Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Committee
It focuses on diversity, equity and inclusion on behalf of the Partnership Council, working closely with the D&I team as a trusted sounding board. Their role is to inform, influence and support decision making, gathering opinion to help make sure the Partner view is understood. The Committee directs matters to the wider Council where they feel it necessary and help Councillors to understand and debate our D&I and inclusion proposition.