About Poznań's values. Recipe for success

According to the latest ranking prepared by Business Insider Polska, Poznań has been recognised as the best city to live in Poland. The favourable economic indicators are linked to the City's openness to diversity. The capital of Wielkopolska is known for its values such as tolerance, equality, community and integration.

Poznań is a city open to different cultures. Aware of this mosaic reality, Poznań’s businesses and city authorities undertake many initiatives to promote diversity, equality and integration. Poznań’s multiculturalism has a two-dimensional character. These include the number of registered foreigners – around 8,500 – and the possibility of studying more than 50 foreign languages at Adam Mickiewicz University. These factors have an impact on the developing and thus increasingly diversifying talent pool.

This aspect is crucial for the modern services sector, one of the city's priority sectors. It is, on the one hand, a rapidly growing branch of business and, on the other, the most diverse in terms of the baggage of experience, background, and gender of the employees. The city's overall climate is influenced not only by an openminded worldview but also by the developing CSR/ESG policy of the companies operating in the city. It has a significant impact on respecting minority rights, fighting exclusion, promoting inclusivity and diversity.

Opportunities for equal development

One of the values particularly promoted and embodied by Poznań’s companies and city authorities is gender equality. It is first and foremost a matter of ensuring the same opportunities and access to development for all.

In the case of the modern services sector, the proportion of women employed in the area reaches 53%. How are companies approaching the subject? The need for development based on equal and inclusive principles is especially highlighted by Wunderman Thompson Technology. The company's nationwide management board includes two women and one man. In terms of the proportion of executives, it is 51% female and 49% male, respectively. Hiring and promotion rules are set out in a dedicated group policy ensuring transparency and equality.

Another company that respects the equal opportunities policy is Capgemini Poland. It is worth noting that in a team of 12,000 people, more than half are women.

As part of its pro-equality activities, Investor Relations Department of the Poznań City Hall was involved in actions related to the activation of women on the labour market. An example of activity in this area was a coaching meeting in the "Feminine side of POZnań" series. The topic of the event was changes in the working life of mothers returning to the labour market. There was also a unique “Women in IT” conference in the TechUniverCity series. The event was organised by WSB Merito Poznań University together with SUSO Digital and the City of Poznań. The meeting featured diverse talks about the IT sector, not only for women already working in the field, but also those considering a job or returning to professional activity after a break.

Inclusion of  LGBT+ community

As part of equality activism, there are groups in many Poznań companies that aim to raise awareness and knowledge in this area. Again, Capgemini Poland is leading the way here, with its OUTfront Community, which supports projects for LGBT+ people. A similar employee resource group is active at Wunderman Thompson Technology.

When talking about the inclusive practices of Poznań's businesses, it is impossible to overlook the city authorities' commitment to this matter. Accordingly, there is an Equality Policy Proxy and an Equality and Diversity Policy Team at the City Hall. As part of its activities, an 'Equality Glossary' has been created. It contains basic terms and concepts to use in order to speak and write in an inclusive language of respect. In terms of supporting the LGBT+ community, an annual Pride Parade and Poznań Pride Week are organised under the patronage of the City.

Disability in a workplace

The Poznań business community is becoming increasingly involved in activating people with disabilities. They have a simple goal: to recognise their potential. They undoubtedly bring many benefits to businesses, contributing to increasing diversity in the workplace. In addition, they are upholding the fight against exclusion in its broadest sense, and raising awareness of others, contributing to a change in worldview.

An example of a company spreading these ideals is ROCKWOOL GBS. It organised a Hybrid Job Fair for People with (Dis)abilities in cooperation with the Wózkowicze Foundation. The event took place at its headquarters – completely adapted to the needs of people with disabilities. The inclusiveness and uniqueness of the fair are defined by its openness to a social group that has long struggled with exclusion on many levels.

Environmental responsibility

Action against progressive climate change is an extremely important topic for global society. Companies in Poznań are also talking about environmental responsibility. Miele's activities in this area are a prime example. They are a recipient of the German Sustainability Award, a member of the UN organisation Global Compact's corporate responsibility and sustainability initiative and a signatory of the "Charta der Vielfalt". Miele pays attention to energy efficiency, resource conservation in equipment and products, and has a number of CSR activities.

Wunderman Thompson Technology is also committed to raising awareness of environmental protection. The company has a number of employee resource groups – and the idea behind one of them is the issue of sustainability.

Openness of origin

The origin of employees in the modern services sector is another element of diversity in the capital of Wielkopolska. The prevalence of this phenomenon is evidenced by the fact that 93% of companies in the sector employ foreigners. In view of the upward trend in the inflow of foreigners, employees of Investor Relations Department took part in the work of the Policy Team for the Integration of Immigrants in Poznań. In addition, together with companies they prepared lectures for foreign students. The theme was the potential and opportunities of the city. Particular emphasis was placed on job opportunities for students with niche languages, e.g. Turkish, Hebrew.

Another important initiative was the 5th edition of University of Success, coordinated in Poznań by Poznań CityLab. The programme enables girls from underprivileged backgrounds who cannot afford university or programming courses to start a career in the IT sector entering adulthood. Participants were given access to programming and UX courses, support from HR advisors and mentors, and paid internships.

Celebrating diversity together

A special place in the City's calendar of events is given to those that target the diversity of the other. The first of these is Poznań Tolerance Days. This is an annual event, held in Autumn, which in 2022 included two weeks of workshops, lectures, exhibitions, meetings and discussions. All this is intended to show the diversity of cultures, beliefs and worldviews of the Poznań community.

Another event jointly celebrated by the private and public sectors is October's Values Day. In 2022, on this occasion, employees of the modern services sector and representatives of the City took to the streets together to manifest shared beliefs and values. The day culminated with those gathered creating a symbolic ”Together” sign. This year's Values Day celebrations had a much broader tone. They featured panels on the ideals of values important to business. Academic circles of Poznań's most important city universities also joined in the celebration. It was there that panel discussions were held with the participation of city and company representatives.

What is the recipe for Poznań's success? Above all, it is the shared values that unite Poznań's businesses and the city authorities. These include openness, equality, diversity, shared responsibility, dialogue, friendliness and security. Businesses and city authorities realise that the ability to manage diversity, inclusive organisational culture and workplaces that respect individual differences are essential to maintaining a competitive edge on the international market and attracting foreign investors. Hence, there are so many activities, projects and events aimed at another human being.

Author: Amelia Wojciechowska

Photo: Karolina Obajtek

This article comes from magazine:
FOCUS ON Business #13 November-December (6/2023)