'Do you stand for something, and what?' Workers want employers that share values| Opinion
Janelle N. Coleman is AEP vice president of community engagement, diversity and inclusion, and president of the AEP Foundation.
Central Ohio is one of the fastest-growing communities in the nation.
We’ve seen significant recent growth in the healthcare and biotech industries and advanced manufacturing.
Now, Intel brings an entirely new business sector to Ohio, and with it will come many more companies in Intel’s supply chain. Tech companies across the country will take a closer look at Ohio as they seek to expand. The future looks bright for Ohio workers.
But with this growth comes a community responsibility to earnestly build equitable opportunity for all.
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Creating equality means giving every person a shot at success. It means allowing people to bring their full selves to the table and giving them the ability take care of themselves and their families today and into the future.
Equality starts with access to opportunity. The door is closed to many qualified candidates because of a lack of access. Transportation, safe and affordable housing, child care, nutritious food, and health and mental health care can all stand in the way of opportunity.
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A skilled mother who can’t find care for her child so is she able to interview for a higher-paying job has little chance to provide a better life for herself and her children. A young man who can’t get to a training program misses the opportunity to improve his skill set.
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When the first step to a better life seems insurmountable, people shut down before they even get started, and our whole community suffers. We must think creatively and strive for solutions that empower individuals to take that first step.
Creating equality doesn’t stop there. Equitable practices in the workplace must take into account the well-being of all employees. Giving every person a chance to be successful means investing in employees and focusing on retention — an issue that particularly impacts women and people of color.
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We must create cultures of mutual loyalty and support in our workplaces. The flexibility to take time off to care for a family member, knowing your job will be waiting for you. The freedom and support to focus on your mental health when the stresses of life take a toll. The time and ability to create a fulfilling life by pursuing interests and activities outside of work.
When employers invest in whole people, employees are happier, work more effectively, and importantly, they stay. And when employees are happy and fulfilled, nine out of 10 times, they pay it forward.
The past several years caused a dramatic shift both in the way many of us work and in the values of the next generation of workers. Working for multiple companies over the course of a career is the new normal for many. Employees are far more interested and invested in the values of their employer.
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The question is no longer, “Will my employer stand for something?” but rather, “Do you stand for something, and what?” More and more, workers require alignment with their own values. And equality as a workplace value is expected.
We should embrace and celebrate this evolution. It presents us with an opportunity to support happier, healthier, more vibrant and more productive individuals inside and outside the workplace, and a stronger community for all of us.
Janelle N. Coleman is AEP vice president of community engagement, diversity and inclusion, and president of the AEP Foundation.
This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Opinion: Workplace equality creates happy, fulfilled employees
