Aboitiz Equity Ventures, Inc. (AEV), as part of its commitment to support diversity, equality, and inclusion within the Aboitiz Group, includes LGBTQ+ and common-law partners as medical dependents of its team members. Starting August 15, 2021, all AEV team members with a legal civil status of “single” have the option of listing their LGBTQ+ or common-law partners as one of their dependents under the health insurance policy of the company. As a listed dependent, these partners are entitled to the same medical coverage as the spouse of a legally married team member.
Aboitiz Group President and CEO Sabin M. Aboitiz highlighted the importance of inclusion and diversity in the Group. “The Aboitiz Group is committed to building and nurturing a culture where its team members are celebrated for their individuality and diversity. The inclusion of LGBTQ+ and common-law partners into our team members’ healthcare dependents is just one way the Group shows how we value and respect each team member’s individuality, and how we are sensitive to their needs. As an equal opportunity employer, we are an innovative company that embraces a progressive culture—one that recognizes team members as valued drivers of organizational success,” Aboitiz said.
The new policy is a testament to the Aboitiz Group’s commitment to its sustainability journey. The policy supports the UN Sustainable Development Goals, specifically SDG 5: Reducing Inequalities. As a signatory to UNGC, the Group upholds the UNGC Principles on Human rights and Labor to create an inclusive working environment for its employees. In addition, Aboitiz is the first conglomerate to join the Philippine Business Coalition for Women Empowerment which aims to promote Gender Workplace Equality. These alliances provide a learning avenue for businesses on best practices and policies that would benefit the company and employees with increased productivity and good employee morale in the long run.
Apart from supporting UN SDG 5, the new policy comes as one of the many products of the company’s REMIX program. Inspired by the book “The Remix” by Lindsey Pollak, the program is an initiative within the Aboitiz Group that aims to future-proof the organization by encouraging senior team leaders and junior team members to share ideas, insights, and suggestions on how to improve (or “remix”) internal policies or processes. The concept of “remixing” is one way the Aboitiz Group concretely practices ways to future-proof its organization and design a more inclusive work environment as it moves towards a ‘better normal.’ Some recent outputs in AEV from the REMIX program involve addressing team members’ individual needs on mental health by providing counseling sessions and mental health awareness sessions, and the inclusion of mental health concerns for medical leaves.
Other REMIX initiatives include a “work-from-anywhere” virtual work policy and a virtual work equipment loan. Through the continuous review of policies and guidelines via the REMIX project, the Aboitiz Group ensures that relevant assistance is continuously provided to its team members to help improve their lives despite the tough challenges brought about by the pandemic.
