The Future of Work: The benefits of Investing in DEI Support

 

The conception of Easyshop Easycook in 2001 was born out of a desire to support working professionals. I, as a soon-to-be-wed working woman, was contemplating the domestic challenges that I may face while balancing a full-time job. My friend and I sat down and discussed the household tasks that women typically manage and how technology could help. As a tech sector professional, I honed in on grocery shopping and conducted research to gauge addressable market size. With my background as a website developer, I built a website and established the company to tackle this challenge. The rest is history.

Over the years, I've explored the difficulties faced by working professionals. This led me to take a course in DEI to better understand the challenges and plan how Easyshop Easycook can effectively respond to them. To us, delivering fresh groceries is more than just providing food, it's about enabling a better lifestyle, strengthening marriages, advancing careers and generating wealth. This has been evident in the families we have supported over the past 20 years. Many of these women have grown from entry managers to top executives such as board chairs, federal ministers, commissioners, business owners, ambassadors and C-suite executives. Today, their grown children are using our service for their own homes, and it's a source of pride for me and a testament to our success.

In today's rapidly evolving business environment, organizations face the challenge of fostering diverse and inclusive workforces. With increasing emphasis on DEI, companies seek ways to support their staff and cultivate a harmonious work environment. One of the most impactful ways to achieve this objective is through investment in DEI support services; which aims to aid companies in establishing a culture of diversity and inclusiveness.

A recent report by McKinsey & Company, a leading management consulting firm, highlights the benefits of gender diversity in the workplace. According to the report, companies with gender-diverse leadership teams have a significantly higher chance of financial success, with a 21% higher likelihood of above-average profitability compared to companies with less gender diversity. Despite this, women remain underrepresented in top executive roles, with only 25% of C-suite positions globally held by women in 2020. The study found that companies with gender-diverse executive teams have a 56% higher operating profit margin, emphasizing the positive impact diversity can have on business performance. Despite progress in some regions, women's representation in senior management remains low, particularly in Africa and Latin America.

These numbers emphasize the significance of gender diversity in the work environment and the advantages that come from promoting diversity and inclusion. While many organizations are striving to increase gender diversity, they face challenges in implementing inclusive practices. Those that have succeeded in this effort have sought assistance from DEI support services to establish Employee Assisted Programs (EAPs) to ensure the success of their inclusion initiatives.

The presence of diversity in the workforce is crucial, but it's just as important to implement supportive structures that address the unique needs of employees. Employee Assistance Programs (EAPs) play a crucial role in this. EAPs aim to provide employees with the resources they need to tackle challenges that impact their work performance. This can include resources for work-life balance, mental health and wellness, financial support, legal assistance, substance abuse and addiction support, career development, health and wellness, stress management and family support.

By offering access to EAPs, companies can foster a sense of belonging and appreciation among employees. Providing employees with resources to tackle challenges they face helps retain talent and demonstrate that their wellbeing is a priority. Implementing these support services is a key aspect of creating an inclusive workplace.

At Easyshop Easycook, we offer a comprehensive lifestyle management program known as the 

Employee Support Package (ESP) to corporate organizations. ESP provides employees with a variety of work-life balance resources that take care of everyday responsibilities and help them perform at their best in the workplace. It includes services such as shopping, nanny care, creche, laundry, gardening and more. Additionally, we've also customized ESP into Estate Support Package (ESP) for facility management companies serving high net worth residents in Lagos, and a Customer Support Package (CSP) for banks to acquire and retain high net worth customers.

Investment in Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) support services is vital for companies looking to cultivate a more diverse and inclusive work atmosphere. At Easyshop Easycook, we have witnessed the beneficial outcomes of these services on our customers for about 20 years. By providing employees with the necessary support to succeed in a diverse workplace, companies can foster a more positive and productive work environment. Our customers especially women have achieved great strides in their careers, shattered barriers, pursued political careers, balanced work and parenthood, and challenged stereotypes, all thanks to the lifestyle support services they received. Today, companies that have implemented these crucial steps in their organizations are seeing the rewards.