As the global business certification standard for gender equality, EDGE certifies equal opportunities for both genders within the L’Oréal Philippines workplace
As a company that values equality and open-mindedness in the workplace, L’Oréal Philippines takes pride as the first company in the Philippines to receive EDGE (Economic Dividends for Gender Equality) Certification for gender equality. Following its launch at the World Economic Forum in 2011, EDGE’s mission has been to engage companies across the world in fostering equal opportunities for women and men in the workplace. EDGE Assessment is the leading business certification for gender equality in the workplace that is universally applicable across industries and countries, and is distinguished by its rigor and focus on business impact.
“Diversity has always been one of the key drivers at L’Oréal Philippines, and is integral to the way we work,” shares Anna Coloma-Basilio, HR Manager, and the Chief Diversity Contact of L’Oréal Philippines. “We continue to strive for equal opportunities and an inclusive workplace for all genders because we recognize and value that each individual’s unique perspectives and creativity fuel our ability to grow our business and meet the needs of our consumers.”
The EDGE Certification process involves a comprehensive review on gender practices, including policies and actions related to equal pay for equivalent work, recruitment and promotion, leadership development, training and mentoring, flexible working, and company culture. The certification process began last year, when L’Oréal Philippines embarked on a review on gender-equality practices within the company. Then, employees in L’Oréal Philippines participated in EDGE’s assessment through a company-wide survey, which was followed by a third-party audit.
“The L’Oréal culture has always embraced equality, and it is intrinsic in our company values of open-mindedness and responsibility, and even our ethical principles such as respect and integrity,” shares Tina Ampil, L’Oréal Philippines General Manager for Human Resources. “By offering equal opportunities for learning, development, and growth to everyone, we are ensuring that our current and future leaders are equipped with the right values and skills to carry out our company mission of providing ‘Beauty for All’ sustainably for the future.”
More than 100 companies in 30 countries use the EDGE Assessment methodology and certification process to create an optimal, balanced workplace for men and women. The methodology and standard enables a company to accurately assess how it performs both at a country and a global level.
“EDGE Certification is a robust, tried and tested tool to kick-off and set you on the right path towards gender balance in organisations. It provides clear metrics, identifies gaps and also provides external recognition through the certification of your commitment and progress, wherever companies are in the journey.” says Aniela Unguresan, co-founder of EDGE Certified Foundation. “EDGE Certification is shorthand for – this is a good place to work, a good place to invest, and a company from which to buy products and services if you are interested in gender equality,” says Megan Beyer, member of the Global Advisory Council at EDGE.
After the awarding of the certification, L’Oréal Philippines has taken concrete actions towards continued progress in gender equality, which include planned Diversity Training for all employees, and the concretization on policies that will ensure fairness for both genders in ways of working in all aspects in the company. At the global level, L’Oréal is in the process of certifying operations in several other countries.
