Action West London Achieves Mayor of London’s Good Work Standard Accreditation!
We are thrilled to announce that Action West London has been officially accredited as a Mayor of London’s Good Work Standard employer at the prestigious Achievement level!
This accreditation is a testament to our unwavering commitment to creating an outstanding workplace that prioritises fairness, inclusivity, and employee wellbeing. The Mayor’s Good Work Standard sets the benchmark for the best employment practices in London, and we are incredibly proud to be recognised for our efforts in building a fairer and more inclusive city.
The assessment panel was particularly impressed with several key areas of our work:
- Inclusive Recruitment: Our dedicated approach to inclusive recruitment, including the use of diverse interview panels, actively encouraging underrepresented groups to apply, and utilising a wide range of advertising channels, truly stood out. We believe in providing equal opportunities for all and ensuring our team reflects the rich diversity of London.
- Comprehensive Employee Handbook: Our comprehensive Employee Handbook, meticulously outlining all policies and procedures, was highlighted for its clarity and thoroughness. This resource ensures that all our employees are well-informed and supported.
- 360 Feedback in Performance Reviews: The panel applauded our innovative use of 360 feedback in performance reviews. This valuable tool not only supports professional development but also fosters a culture of continuous improvement and open communication.
While we celebrate this significant achievement, we are also committed to continuous improvement. The Mayor’s office has provided some excellent suggestions to help us work towards the “excellence” criteria, including:
- Developing SMART (Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, Time-bound) actions for our equality, diversity, and inclusion policy to create an even clearer action plan for improvements.
- Updating all flexible working policies to reflect the latest ‘flex from first’ guidelines and ensuring these are effectively communicated to all staff.
- Considering the usage of the Bradford score when monitoring absences, but crucially, ensuring absence is always monitored through an employee wellbeing lens. This means focusing on understanding the context of absences and implementing necessary wellbeing interventions to support our employees back to work.
Our Good Work Standard accreditation is valid for four years, and we are dedicated to maintaining these high standards. We will continue to engage with the Mayor’s office annually to ensure our practices remain exemplary. As a condition of this accreditation, we are also informing our entire workforce of this fantastic achievement!
We wholeheartedly agree with the Mayor that effective employee engagement, involving employees in decision-making, and managing change are pivotal to creating truly inclusive workplaces. We are also exploring how recognising a trade union could further support our organisation in achieving these goals.
We are excited to join the community of accredited Good Work Standard employers and look forward to championing the Standard ourselves, encouraging others in our networks and supply chain to join us in making London the best city in the world to work in.
A huge thank you to our incredible team at Action West London for their hard work and dedication that made this accreditation possible. This is a collective achievement, and we are immensely proud of what we have built together.
Stay tuned for more updates, and be sure to check out the Good Work Standard website for valuable resources for HR leads and to learn more about this vital initiative.