Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DE&I)
DiversityJobs.com Top Diversity Employer
SIRVA Is pleased to announce that we have been named a Top Diversity Employer by DiversityJobs.com. This award was given to a select group of employers that have shown consistent dedication to recruiting and hiring from all diversity groups.
Useful Resources
SIRVA’s Commitment/Mission Statement
At SIRVA, we’re committed to cultivating a workplace and an ecosystem that reflects the diversity of the global organizations that we serve. We recognize that building an inclusive, engaged company culture results in empowered employees that reflect a wide range of approaches and perspectives. Those perspectives lead to new ideas. New ideas lead to innovation and excellence. Our approach to diversity, equity and inclusion is driven by a commitment to these values and a belief that diversity makes our company stronger.
Ricky Aow
Sales & Account Management Business Analyst (Victoria, Australia)
This industry attracts passionate down to earth people from diverse backgrounds, many of which who have been in the industry for 10, 20, 30+ years. I have a marvelous manager, who regularly takes time to update me, I enjoy the flexibility and challenges of the work. The business leaders are personally invested, dedicated, and bring energy and commitment to the team. Recently I was chuffed when a leader from a different business unit nominated me for a STAR award. The thing I treasure the most are the friendships I have made at SIRVA; friendships and memories that I will cherish
SIRVA's Employee Resource Groups (ERGs)
ERGs are employee-led, self-directed voluntary groups that offer opportunities to network internally, to attract a diverse employee base, to provide the inclusion of ideas and solutions, and to create opportunities for mentoring and career development.
SIRVA is proud to announce the formation of our first two Employee Resource Groups!
DEN - The Diverse Employee Network (People of Color)
Mission: SIRVA People of Color Employee Resource Group (ERG) is open to all employees. The ERG aims to advance a diverse and inclusive work environment with a particular focus on people of color. Working with a dedicated network of diverse professionals, the ERG undertakes activities to attract, retain, empower, and inspire employees of color. These efforts are geared toward helping members gain leadership experience, get involved in the SIRVA community and develop new ideas to help drive SIRVA forward.
SOL - SIRVA Out Loud (LGBTQ+)
Mission: Our mission is to create a safe and supportive space for LGBTQ+ SIRVA team members and their allies to thrive and be celebrated, so that we can provide advocacy for equity and an inclusive experience in all settings.
Recruiting & Outreach
- Internships
- Recruiting
- Partnerships
- Corporate Presence
Organizational Development
- Engagement
- Performance
- Promotions
- Pay Equity
Mentorship
- Career Development
- Interest Groups
Education & Training
- New Hire Onboarding
- Inclusiveness
- Standards & Training
Harriet Kwawukume
Client Finance Team Lead (Prague, Czech Republic)
"Being part of the SIRVA family has been a marvellous experience in my career growth. Having joined the finance team and getting to encounter the diverse multicultural environment has been great. SIRVA helped me to develop as an Analyst by investing in my skills and potential and bringing out the best in me and I’m currently leading one of the teams in finance. I foresee an empowering future here and I look forward to it!"
Mobilizing Diversity: Customer Stories
Building and Leading Equitable and Inclusive Talent Management
Diversity, equity, and inclusion (DE&I) is ever-evolving. There is no one-size-fits-all approach. In this three-part series, you will hear from three of our clients (Kia Motors, Ardent Mills, and HPE). Our clients all have expertise in mobility and are helping change the landscape for DE&I efforts; they will share their stories as an effort to help other organizations learn from peers on how DE&I intersects with mobility and talent management.
Aligning Housing Expectations to Deliver Exceptional Results
Every relocation is unique, requiring close attention to all details to ensure our clients’ satisfaction, a positive experience for their employees, and our mutual success. Some, however, stand out as particularly challenging. During these situations, our employees take great pride in providing innovative, caring and customized solutions. The following is one of those stories.
Aligning Housing Expectations to Deliver Exceptional Results
When assignees relocate from one country to another, they’re often surprised by the differences in available housing, from amenities that may or may not be included to housing types and their associated costs. Often, though, these surprises are just as unexpected when an employee makes a simple move across town. Such was the case when John, a German national who had lived in Shanghai for several years, was required to move to a more central location for his job at a Fortune 500 company’s chemistry plant.
John had certain expectations for his new home and hadn’t been happy with any of the many properties presented by a SIRVA agent. Leo Shen, SIRVA’s Associate Director of Relocation, China, suspected that this might be a case of the employee’s expectations being misaligned with the available market. He and his team mounted a concerted effort to understand the root causes of the problem and how to address them.
After investigating, Leo discovered several reasons for the misalignment:
- John had used external agent ads as a benchmark, many of which listed non-existent properties or had been embellished with incorrect information to attract home buyers.
- John seemed unaware of his company’s lease policy; the landlords of most of the properties he was interested in didn’t accept the terms of that policy.
- John’s wife had, until this point, participated in preliminary home searches alone, after which the couple returned to visit properties that had been shortlisted together.
Leo wanted to ensure that John and his wife would find a home they’d be happy to live in, and he knew the first step toward accomplishing this was to establish a sense of trust. He also knew he would need to educate them on the current housing market and availability.
To accomplish all of this, he and his team prepared data that reflected true local pricing and amenities, as well as information that would illustrate the inaccuracy of the online ads that John had seen. Next, they met with John and his wife personally to share this information, to make sure the couple understood employer guidelines and recognized the many desirable properties still available to them, and to clarify a realistic, mutually agreed upon wish list for a new home. Once all parties were on the same page, the team and couple conducted an in-office review of multiple listings. The list was narrowed down and a targeted, on-site house-hunting schedule was arranged. Thanks to personalized and caring attention, John and his wife found a new home that was not only perfect for them, but that also met his employer’s lease requirements. The couple was as thrilled with the service they’d received as they were with their new home.
The Face Behind the Story:
Leo Shen, Associate Director, Relocation Service, China
As Associate Director, Relocation Service for SIRVA, China, Leo is responsible for the coordination and oversight of Destination Services delivery to clients throughout the country. Together with his team, he ensures the delivery of consistent quality service and that the highest customer satisfaction is achieved.
Leo holds a bachelor’s degree in engineering and brings over 13 years of relocation experience and expertise to our organization. Clients and employees alike benefit from his ability to combine strategic problem-solving skills with a strong dedication to the people he serves.
When Leo’s not busy at the office, he enjoys swimming, practicing taekwondo, and spending time with his daughter – playing Legos when they’re inside or taking in the natural beauty of the many parks, mountains and creeks near Shanghai when they can be outside. He also enjoys travelling with his family. Favorite destinations include Thailand and Australia, and they hope to visit New Zealand in the near future.