It is Adecco’s great pleasure to welcome Dee Steimle as Director of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion. As Canada’s largest recruitment solutions company, we understand the value of a diverse, equitable and inclusive workplace—it’s what we strive towards every day for our clients, associates and colleagues.
The role of Director of DE&I will re-strategize and re-structure our efforts internally to foster a culture where talent matters, not labels, and where everybody has an equal chance to be part of the world of work.
We’re excited to sit down with Dee one-on-one to discuss her new role and vision for Adecco.
Dee, what is diversity, equity & inclusion? How do the three elements intersect?
DE&I is always evolving. When I first started working in this space we only talked about diversity. I worked for a large hospital in Toronto, collaborating with employees and the community to recognize and enhance the value of diversity.
As things evolved, it became evident that diversity without inclusion is like a house without a foundation. You can have all the diversity you want, but if you don’t have the type of environment that fosters the inclusion of those different voices and perspectives then it’s not going to go very far. Inclusion unleashes the power of diversity.
The E in the equation stands for equity. Equity in the workforce levels the playing field so that all employees have equality of opportunity. Equity takes into consideration what an individual needs to succeed, which may be different for different people. It’s also about making sure that an organization’s systems and structures don’t inadvertently create barriers.
Frankly, DE&I is still evolving even now—the acronym has become a little bit of an alphabet soup!
“Ultimately, I think the entire DE&I space comes down to respect. When you can build a culture where people respect one another, they’re going to feel safer, value each other and contribute their authentic selves.”
Knowing that DE&I encompasses so much, what are your first steps at Adecco? Where do you begin tackling such a broad issue?
The work that I’m going to be doing in the very short term is creating a strategy for Canada. The intent behind that is to create more synergy and alignment across the work that’s already being done.
There are a lot of passionate people in the Canadian organization that have already started moving the needle—but it’s a dispersed effort. What I’d like to do is create a strategy to align their efforts so that together, we’re more efficient and, ultimately, have a greater impact.
Very generally, there are two buckets where I’ll be concentrating my efforts. One bucket is structural inclusion, which is about the systems and processes in an organization that facilitate DE&I.
The other big bucket is behavioural inclusion. On an individual level, I’ll be helping people to grow in awareness of DE&I and teaching leaders what inclusive leadership looks like day to day.
Adecco is the largest HR solutions company in Canada. As such, we’re involved in the recruitment and retention processes of many organizations across the country. Does that change your perspective on the importance of DE&I internally?
Absolutely. I think it gives us a whole different level of responsibility. If we want to be leaders in this space, we need to demonstrate leadership through the very nature of our business.
For example, how do we recruit? Where are we fishing? Are we casting the net so that we’re reaching a diverse reflection of our communities? I believe a strong employee experience will extend to the client experience—EX and CX are intimately related. When we establish greater strength in the DE&I space and get our own house in order, so to speak, then we can leverage that knowledge with our clients.
In your opinion, has the pandemic affected DE&I? How should a DE&I strategy adapt to the post-COVID world of work?
The pandemic has certainly affected DE&I. For instance, more women have left the workforce, which is a step backwards in terms of some of the progress that has happened.
Many of the challenges that people face during COVID have been felt more prominently by traditionally underrepresented groups. As an organization, we need to be cognizant of those disproportionately affected groups and adopt policies that enable greater flexibility and keep health and wellness at the forefront for our employees.
Lastly, can you share with us your big goals for Adecco as you step into this role?
Big picture is that I want to contribute to a thriving organization. The wonderful thing about DE&I is that it touches every individual. There are so many studies out there that irrefutably prove how an organization that is strong in DE&I has stronger performance. It’s a beautiful win-win scenario where you get to lift people up and help them contribute the best they have to offer, and in doing so, simultaneously benefit the organization, the clients and—if you really want to talk big—society as a whole.
Adecco is one of the leading and most comprehensive staffing and workforce solutions company in the country. We specialize in search and placement services for temporary and permanent personnel, contingent workforce management, master vendor programs (MVP) delivery, professional resource augmentation, contractor management and recruitment consulting. To learn more about our solutions, connect with us today!
About Dee Steimle
Dee Steimle is the Director, Diversity, Equity and Inclusion for TAG Canada. In alignment with the North American DEI strategy, Dee is responsible for leading the development and implementation of a DEI strategy on behalf of the Canadian business units.
Dee will champion an aligned and leveraged approach for the Canadian organization to capture synergies and promote an inclusive and thriving workplace. She will provide oversight for external alliances and establish key priorities to strengthen brand reputation. Additionally, she will provide guidance, education and counsel to our leaders and colleagues to foster a culture where employees can bring their authentic selves to work and where everyone is enabled to work at their potential.
Dee brings to the Adecco Group an extensive background in evolving organizational culture with broad HR Management experience as well as deep DEI knowledge, having provided leadership in these areas at both National and Global levels.
Dee has earned a B. Arts from Queens University, a Masters of Adult Education from the University of Toronto, holds a Certified Human Resources Leader (CHRL) and an Accredited Engagement and Recognition Professional (REP) designation, and is a Registered Yoga Teacher (RYT). She lives in Oakville, Ontario with her adorable husband and has two adult-ish boys.