DEI Workplace Culture Brings Long-Term Benefits for Company and Employees

In recent years, apart from "CSR" and "ESG" that have been the focus of corporate sustainability, there is another global trend that businesses are catching on, and that is applying the principles of diversity, equity, and inclusion (known as DEI) to enterprises. This is something that CTCI, a global EPC group, has been striving for while fulfilling its corporate social responsibility and practicing ESG. In this article, we will share with you how CTCI establishes a good working environment for employees worldwide through various measures, so as to achieve the DEI vision.

Promote DEI to Establish Good Working Environment

The definition of DEI is as follows:

1.Diversity: This refers to the diversity of employee backgrounds, traits, and perspectives, including differences in gender, age, race, sexual orientation, religion, education, experience, etc.

2.Equity: This means that the employees enjoy equal treatment, have room for personal development within the organization, and have the opportunity to unleash their potential and make contribution, without being discriminated against or treated unequally due to individual differences. From the company perspective, equity can help improve employee engagement and satisfaction, as well as reduce employee turnover and related legal risks.

3.Inclusion: This concept is about how to respect and embrace diverse employees. It also refers to how a company creates a friendly and open atmosphere, so that employees can feel a sense of belonging and respect, as well as freely express their ideas and opinions. From the company perspective, inclusion not only helps promote communication, cooperation, and trust among employees, but also stimulates employees' creativity. Through various creative approaches, a company is able to embrace diverse views, create a friendly workplace environment, encourage employees with different backgrounds and traits to express their thoughts from different perspectives, integrate multiple perspectives, and make more substantial contributions to the company.

Despite being a part of the male-dominated engineering service industry, CTCI’s recruitment policy stresses on the use of talents and only considers a candidate’s capability and suitability. Gender is not a selection factor. Due to CTCI’s continuous effort in recruiting female employees, there has been a gradual increase in the proportion of female employees over the years, as shown below.

As CTCI’s engineering projects spread all over the world, CTCI strives to create a diverse and inclusive workplace atmosphere. By hiring employees of different genders, religions, races, nationalities, ages and ethnic minorities, we bring diverse perspectives to the organization.

In recent years, CTCI’s employees come from more than 10 countries, which demonstrates that CTCI values talent, respects diversity, demonstrates tolerance, and fosters a shared international outlook. The following chart shows the foreign nationalities of CTCI’s employees and their percentage.

The CTCI Codes of Ethical Conduct clearly prohibits any form of discrimination or exclusion based on gender, race, religious belief, political inclination, sexual orientation, seniority, nationality and age, as well as sexual harassment, violence, and threats at the workplace. CTCI has not only included relevant regulations and procedures in its employee handbook, but has also intensified its advocacy for new employees. In addition, an employee feedback mailbox is provided to facilitate communication through email, and a dedicated unit was set up to respond and handle relevant issues. To effectively handle the whistle-blowing reports and maintain a smooth and impartial investigation process, an inter-departmental team of members approved by the Reward and Penalty Review Board is in charge of complaint investigation and forming an investigation report.

In addition, we have established a variety of employee assistance channels, including:

a.EAP support program: CTCI entrusts external professional institutions to implement the group-wide employee assistance programs (EAPs), which help employees deal with their troubles. By doing so, CTCI provides its employees a workplace where they can work with peace of mind. Not only are CTCI employees eligible for the program, their first-degree relatives are eligible as well. The program offers limitless and free telephone consultation and online services. Even when colleagues are dispatched abroad, they can access the consultation service through LINE, Wechat, and email.

b.Assistance to expat colleagues stationed abroad: CTCI collects information on the countries where the construction sites are located or where its subsidiaries are located, and compile such information into an overseas life guidebook for expat employees who live such countries. The guidebook contains basic introduction about the country, information on diplomatic services information, local life, basic conversation skills in the local language, emergency contact information, health guidelines for employees working overseas, customs entry instructions, luggage loss handling, overseas medical care, and insurance information.

c.Assistance to foreign colleagues stationed in Taiwan : 
When employees from CTCI’s overseas subsidiaries come to work in Taiwan, the administrative service department would help them arrange accommodation in Taiwan and provide information on transportation, surrounding environment, and living. As a considerate gesture, emergency cards are also provided, so that foreign colleagues will not panic when they get lost. CTCI ensures that foreign colleagues receive warm reception when they come to work in Taiwan.

At CTCI, there are 18 voluntary associations formed by the employees. Some are volunteer-styled associations. Members of such associations would do service at local community organizations (eg. charity organization, environmental education organization) by holding various activities. The housekeeping club, for example, would arrange baking sessions and hand-made courses from time to time. They also place orders on products made by disadvantaged groups. This becomes an opportunity for busy women colleagues to take a break and adjust themselves to a better mental and physical state. The recreation association has once held an activity called the "Guandu Heart Wetland" that helps people to learn more about the wetland, be willing to protect the wetland, and creates unforgettable moments for parents and children alike.

To respect people with different religious beliefs, such as foreign colleagues, owners, and partners who are in Taiwan for business, CTCI has set up Muslim prayer rooms in its buildings. Among all employee associations, there are also religious associations, such as Buddhism Club and the Faith, Hope and Love Club.

During the three major festivals in Taiwan— which are the Lunar New Year, Dragon Boat Festival, and Mid-Autumn Festival— CTCI would provide special food for celebration and invite foreign colleagues who are far away from home to have a taste of Taiwan’s hospitality and festival features.

To help foreign colleagues better integrate into Taiwan's workplace environment, the Faith, Hope, and Love Club invited Chinese teachers to offer Chinese courses in March 2023. The first series of courses  ended in June 2023, which was followed by a special event for the Dragon Boat Festival. Through the event, which drew nearly 60 colleagues, CTCI’s foreign colleagues learned more about the festival customs and a few Chinese idioms. They played “egg standing” activities and had a taste of ice rice dumplings and mung bean cakes. 

In the future, CTCI will continue to improve the communication with its employees and with other stakeholders. It will also keep monitoring the diversity and equity within the organization. In addition to talking about gender issues and taking actions, CTCI will also discuss and think about designing courses that focus on diversity and inclusiveness to make sure all colleagues know the essence of DEI. Together with its employees, CTCI aims to fulfill the concepts of diversity, equality, and inclusiveness, which further helps drive the overall company development, as well as create a better, happy life for all families, the society, and the environment.