Staff from equity groups invited to share work experiences

September 25, 2013

Ryerson is sparking dialogue amongst its employees.

Starting Friday until Oct. 25, employees are encouraged to attend six sessions with Denise O’Neil Green, assistant vice-president/vice-provost, equity, diversity and inclusion (EDI), to talk about work experiences at Ryerson. Conversations with Employees from Equity Groups is dedicated to: aboriginal faculty and instructors; LGBTT2SQQI; aboriginal staff; women; visible minority/racialized people; and employees with disabilities. Any employee who identifies as belonging to one or more of the above groups is invited to participate in the voluntary, free session.

“‘Conversations with’ provides an opportunity for me to directly engage in conversations with Ryerson employees and learn about their experiences in relationship to their identity as an aboriginal, woman, visible minority, sexual minority, and/or person with a disability at Ryerson,” Green said. “Following ‘Conversations with’ the EDI office is planning to hold another event winter semester that brings a greater cross-section of the Ryerson community together to discuss ways in which everyone can have a hand in fostering EDI. Based on what we learn learn from ‘Conversations with’ as well as other forums that we hold, the EDI office will use that information to guide future initiatives but more importantly inform the development of an EDI strategic plan.”

Conversations with Employees from Equity Groups came out of the People First Survey. In March of 2012, Ryerson invited employees to participate in the university-wide People First Survey to collect information about what the university is doing well as an employer and what  can be improved . Over this past summer and through the fall, the university is asking employees to participate in focus groups to discuss some of the concerns identified in the survey that affect most employees. Employee union groups, faculties and administrative departments are also exploring and addressing their survey results. For more information on the survey, please visitwww.ryerson.ca/hr/worklife/peoplefirstsurvey/.

Now, the Office of Equity, Diversity and Inclusion wants to hear about the positive experiences and areas of concern that are important to employees in equity groups, to inform the university’s equity, diversity and inclusion plan. These gatherings are the beginning of a series of conversations on equity, diversity and inclusion topics related to working at Ryerson. The events are also an opportunity to share and hear experiences, together with other employees who belong to the same equity group.

Below is a list of the upcoming sessions: