Sysco LABS celebrates Pride Month with capacity building programme for Associates

Sysco LABS Sri Lanka celebrated Pride Month 2022 with a special virtual training programme for its associates on July 18 covering multiple areas including sexual orientation, gender identities and expressions, and laws pertaining to the treatment of LGBTIQ employees in the workplace.

As an equal opportunity employer, Sysco LABS has always been committed to creating a work environment that promotes Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI), it said in a media release.

As the captive innovation centre of Sysco – the world’s largest foodservice company, Sysco LABS ensures that all associates are up to date on DEI best practices. The session by EQUAL GROUND – a non-profit organisation promoting equal civil, political, economic and socio-cultural rights for the LGBTIQ community of Sri Lanka -, also raised awareness on issues such as harassment, bullying, and discrimination. It also educated the participants on inclusive language, terminology and the importance of being LGBTIQ-friendly.

Commenting on the programme, Kushani Kalpage, Director – Marketing, who is championing DEI at Sysco LABS said, “Our aim is to make our workplace a safer space for all associates. We believe in the power of knowledge and the awareness it can bring, and through training of this nature, we aim to transform our associates into champions of inclusivity – at work and outside it. Driving the values of diversity, equity and inclusivity across the organisation has been an extremely rewarding experience, and we would like to encourage other organisations to start their own journeys. We are confident that increased awareness can lead to a total societal mindset change, encouraging everyone to accept, value, and celebrate differences while caring for one another.”

Sysco LABS Sri Lanka’s policies and frameworks are inspired by and aligned to its parent company, Sysco’s global DEI agenda. The company is committed to championing equal opportunities for all and is in the process of formulating a comprehensive DEI action plan to promote ‘Females at work’, ‘Ethnicity & Religion’, ‘LGBTIQ+ people at work’ and opportunities for persons with disabilities.