The Responsible Business Forum and Smart Kolektiv have announced the call for applications for the 2024 Most Inclusive Employer Award. The award is granted to business entities that have demonstrated a strategic commitment and excellence in implementing practices that foster diversity, equal opportunities, and inclusion in the workplace.
Businesses that have integrated diversity and inclusion into their strategies and actively work on initiatives and projects contributing to the creation of an inclusive work environment are eligible to apply. The award will be presented in two categories: The Most Inclusive Employer for People with Disabilities and the Most Inclusive Employer of the Year, with separate consideration given to large companies and small and medium enterprises.
“With this award, we continue to recognize companies that actively implement diversity, equality, and inclusion principles into their operations, creating positive changes not only within their organizations but also in society as a whole. Through this, we aim to empower the business community to continue contributing to the inclusion of people with disabilities and other marginalized groups in the labor market,” said Neven Marinović, Director of the Responsible Business Forum and Smart Kolektiv.
A jury composed of prominent representatives from the civil, public, and private sectors will make the final decision, considering how well diversity and inclusion principles are integrated into business operations, as well as the initiatives and practices implemented in the workplace throughout 2024. “The principles of diversity, equality, and inclusion in the workplace relate to a company’s efforts to create an environment where all employees have equal opportunities for advancement, feel included, and accepted in all areas of work, regardless of who they are and where they come from,” the call emphasized.
- APPLICANTS are required to fill in the application form and it should be sent to the email address kancelarija@odgovornoposlovanje.rs by October 31. The application form for large companies is available HERE, while the application form for small and medium-sized enterprises is available HERE.
- AWARD CEREMONY will take place at the CSR & ESG Forum on December 12.
- For MORE INFORMATION about the competition’s conditions and criteria, please download the Most Inclusive Employer Award Methodology HERE.
The Most Inclusive Employer Award was established last year, and granted to Delhaize Serbia for its strategic approach, implemented practices, partnerships, and leadership. Special recognitions were given to IKEA Serbia and Delta Holding. “In our company, which employs around 13,000 people and operates over 500 retail outlets visited by more than half a million people daily, there is no aspect of diversity that is not part of our everyday life. We strive to be 100% inclusive, 100% reflective of the market, and 100% gender-balanced,” said Marko Babić, Vice President for Human Resources and Organizational Development at Delhaize Serbia during the ceremony.
The “Most Inclusive Employer” Award is presented as part of the project “Job Fit: Economic Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities” funded by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and implemented by the Youth with Disabilities Forum. Other project partners are the Ana and Vlade Divac Foundation, Caritas of Serbia, Smart Kolektiv and the Center for Independent Living of Persons with Disabilities.
