Hyundai Auto Canada (HAC) has been named one of Canada’s Best Diversity Employers for 2024, a recognition that is given by Mediacorp and published in the Globe and Mail, after a thorough assessment of the organization’s initiatives in creating an equitable, diverse and inclusive workplace.
Hyundai Canada’s organizational strategy focuses on creating a sustainable and meaningful business environment through various actions and programs that support continuous learning and provide opportunities for career advancements.
“To better serve our diverse customer base while fostering an inclusive organizational culture, we are always re-examining our hiring processes to help ensure our career development policies are equitable,” says Kirk Merrett, Director of Human Resources at Hyundai Canada. “Our people-centric approach is at the forefront of all our decisions, and this recognition from Mediacorp underscores all the hard work and collaborative efforts our leadership team implements to ensure team members across all levels are taken into consideration.”
Hyundai Canada has been stepping up its efforts to ensure proper team member representation from all levels in its corporate policies and business dealings. This includes closing the gender gap in the automotive industry; establishing a Diversity Committee that has representation from team members of different career and ethnic backgrounds; and providing work flexibilities to ensure different forms of caregivers are given the necessary tools, benefits and flexibilities to thrive and grow in their careers.
Closing the gender gap & racial gap with equity & inclusive measures
HAC implemented a Women in Leadership pipeline initiative that focuses on retaining and providing development opportunities for career growth. The organization has seen an increase in women hired over the last three years, up by 8 percent from 2021 (39 percent self-identify as women and 50 percent of Hyundai Canada’s National Managers identify as female).
The company has also seen a jump in self-identifying Black hires; up by 5 percent from 2021 (seven percent self-identify as Black). Mandatory trainings on respect in the workplace and unconscious bias are carried out to all new hires, and the leadership team is being measured on demonstrating inclusion in leadership. HAC’s office facility also includes All-Gender restrooms, a worship room and a room for nursing mothers.
Caregiver equity and flexibility
Hyundai Canada has updated their leave policies by providing 10 “Wellness Days” To ensure team members have the flexibility to attend to the needs of their families, the policy was updated to ensure team members know they can use Wellness Days for appointments for health, education or urgent caregiver responsibilities related to the team member or the team member’s loved one. Hyundai Canada also offers flexible Fridays and business hours to accommodate caregiver’s needs, not to mention maternity and paternity leave top-up programs.
Community initiatives and partnerships
HAC has partnered over the years with many organizations to ensure the maximum inclusion and awareness of career opportunities in the automotive sector for various communities. This included different types of education support programs such as three scholarships with Automotive Business School of Canada at Georgian College; a Bursary award with Centennial College dedicated to self-identifying Black, Women and Indigenous communities; and five scholarship grants to Indspire, an Indigenous national charity that invests in the education of First Nations, Inuit and Métis people.
HAC has also partnered with Onyx Initiative, from which it has proudly recruited six scholars. Onyx is a non-profit organization that aims to expand the Black talent pipeline to close the systemic gap of recruitment and selection of Black university and college students and recent graduates for roles in corporate Canada.
