Tata Steel has recently employed 14 People from the LGBTQ+ community at its Kalinga Nagar plant

by Team Iamsafeatwork

05-06-2023

Safety

According to a news report in December 2021, Tata Steel made significant strides in promoting diversity by employing 16 transgender individuals as Heavy Earth Moving Machine operators at their West Bokaro Division mines. This initiative was part of a program called Women at Mines. Building on this progress, Tata Steel continued to prioritize diversity and inclusion in February 2022. As part of this ongoing commitment, the company welcomed 14 trainees from the LGBTQ+ community for crane operator training. These individuals will be assigned to Tata Steel’s Kalinga Nagar Plant after their training.

As part of its Diversity and Inclusion (D&I) initiative, the company is actively incorporating LGBTQ+ employees into its workforce across multiple branches. This initiative is designed to foster an inclusive work environment where everyone is valued, heard, and encouraged to be their authentic selves. Furthermore, the company is dedicated to establishing a diverse, inclusive, safe, and equitable workplace. By 2025, the company aims to achieve a diverse workforce comprising 25 percent of its employees.

Tata Steel has consistently aimed to set new standards and has earned recognition for introducing pioneering policies, practices, and initiatives. These include pioneering measures such as 8-hour workdays, paid leave, a 5-day workweek in manufacturing, menstrual leave, LGBTQ+ inclusive policies, Women@Mines, and more. With a steadfast dedication to fostering a diverse, inclusive, safe, and equitable workplace worldwide, Tata Steel remains committed to embracing emerging identities, including the transgender community, to promote inclusive industrial growth. By 2025, the company has set a target of achieving a diverse workforce comprising 25 percent of its employees.

About TATA LGBTQ+ Policy

Tata Steel has taken a significant stride in fostering an inclusive culture and ensuring equal rights for LGBTQ+ employees in the workplace. Recently, they introduced a new HR policy that allows colleagues from the LGBTQ+ community to openly declare their partners and access all HR benefits granted by the law. In this context, “partners” refers to individuals of the same sex living together in a manner like a married couple.

The expanded Diversity & Inclusion (D&I) policy at Tata Steel enables employees and their partners to enjoy a range of benefits. These include health check-ups, medical benefits, joint housing points, leave for adoption and new-born parents, child care leave, and employee assistance program (EAP) participation. Additionally, the policy provides financial assistance for gender reassignment surgery and grants 30 days of special leave for the same purpose.

Furthermore, LGBTQ+ employees and their partners are now eligible for the Tata Executive Holiday Plan (TEHP) honeymoon package, domestic travel coverage for new employees, and a temporary transfer policy that facilitates partner exploration and adaptation to new locations. Previously, only opposite-sex spouses were included in various events, but this policy ensures that LGBTQ+ partners are equally eligible to participate in any gathering, whether it’s an official function or an offshore corporate event, regardless of its scale.

The establishment of Tata Steel’s Diversity and Inclusion (D&I) program began to unfold when they introduced a diversity group called ‘MOSAIC’ in June 2015. MOSAIC serves as a platform to foster diversity in terms of gender, inclusive hiring practices, and the inclusion of Persons with Disabilities (PWDs), LGBTQ+ individuals, and more. MOSAIC is built upon five fundamental pillars: Sensitisation, Infrastructure, Recruitment, Retention & Development, and Celebrations, all of which contribute to creating an inclusive and supportive environment.

Aligning with the company’s vision of cultivating an inclusive workplace for all diverse groups, Tata Steel launched WINGS in May 2018. WINGS is an employee resource group specifically focused on supporting the LGBTQ+ community within the organization. This initiative underscores Tata Steel’s commitment to fostering a workplace where LGBTQ+ employees feel valued and empowered.

About TATA Steel

Tata Steel Group holds a prominent position as one of the leading steel companies worldwide, boasting an impressive annual crude steel capacity of 33 million tonnes per year. Known for its extensive geographic reach, the company operates and maintains a strong commercial presence across various regions. In the fiscal year ending 2022 was USD 29622.87 Million, which was up 55.5% compared to USD 19047.81 million reported in FY21. TATA STEEL’s revenue has grown from USD 14935.75 million in FY18 to USD 29622.87 million in FY22.