AXA Philippines commemorates IDAHOBIT in support of the LGBTQIA+ community

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As a company that values diversity and inclusion as a strong and integral part of its culture, AXA Philippines, one of the country’s leading insurance providers, held a panel discussion with its employees to celebrate the International Day Against Homophobia, Biphobia, and Transphobia (IDAHOBIT) this year with the theme, “Our Bodies, Our Rights, Our Lives.” 

This is in time for Pride Month and in line with AXA’s continued commitment to fight for the rights of the LGBTQIA+ community by standing up and speaking out against hate, discrimination, and violence.

(L-R) Lynn Pinugu, She Talks Asia Founder, Beatrice Gomez, the first openly queer Miss Universe Philippines, Mela Habijan, the first Filipina to win Miss Trans Global, Peachy Felix, AXA Philippines Director for Human Capital, and Nandy Villar, AXA Philippines Chief Customer Officer, were present during AXA Philippines’ commemoration of the International Day Against Homophobia, Biphobia, and Transphobia (IDAHOBIT)

On May 17, 1990, the World Health Organization declassified homosexuality as a mental disorder and recognized it as a natural variant of human sexuality. This milestone now marks an annual celebration of sexual and gender diversity, known as the International Day Against Homophobia, Biphobia, and Transphobia (IDAHOBIT), which helps educate people and raise awareness for the work still needed to combat discrimination against the LGBTQIA+ community.

AXA Philippines Director for Human Capital Development Peachy Felix (rightmost) talks about how the company has long supported gender equality during its recent commemoration of the International Day Against Homophobia, Biphobia, and Transphobia (IDAHOBIT). Joining the panel discussion were (L-R) Lynn Pinugu, founder of She Talks Asia who moderated the discussion, Beatrice Gomez, the first openly queer Miss Universe Philippines, and Mela Habijan, the first Filipina to win Miss Trans Global.

For the panel, AXA Philippines invited notable members of the LGBTQIA+ community, namely Beatrice Gomez, the first openly queer Miss Universe Philippines 2021, and Mela Habijan, the first Filipina to win Miss Trans Global in 2020, to share their incredible stories. This discussion aimed to inspire people to continue to rise above the current limits of society and to fight for equality and inclusion for people of all sexual orientations, gender identities, and gender expressions. Gomez and Habijan were also joined by AXA Philippines Director for Human Capital Development Peachy Felix and discussion moderator, Lynn Pinugu, founder of She Talks Asia, which provides a space for inspiration and support among women across multiple platforms.

“At AXA, we take pride in our commitment to fostering a culture that enables every employee to be their true selves in the workplace and ultimately, their best selves. This is one of the ways we can truly act for human progress by protecting what matters. As an LGBTQIA+ ally, I stand firm with this amazing community in the fight against discrimination and inequality. We urge everyone to join us in supporting and celebrating the LGBTQIA+ community and embracing a diverse and inclusive culture in the workplace and beyond,” said AXA Philippines Chief Customer Officer Nandy Villar.

As part of its effort to establish a diverse and inclusive work culture, AXA Philippines has also long been supporting gender equality through its Parent Policy, which has been implemented since 2017. The policy offers 112-day leave for new parent employees and aims to provide the same rights and opportunities to parents of all genders and sexual orientations.

Members of the AXA Philippines community and special guests present during the company’s commemoration of the International Day Against Homophobia, Biphobia, and Transphobia (IDAHOBIT).

AXA Philippines also collaborates with different organizations such as UP Babaylan and LoveYourself, to help increase awareness about LGBTQIA+ issues, promote equality in the workplace, and advocate against bullying and harassment. In addition, AXA holds an annual Inclusion Conference focused on LGBTQIA+ inclusion.

With all these initiatives, AXA strives to be an equal opportunity employer in the Philippines and around the world, creating a work environment where all employees are treated with dignity and respect.

For more updates and information, visit https://www.axa.com.ph.

Durex strengthens PPE campaign to help address STI and HIV incidence in the Philippines

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With over a year in lockdown, we find ourselves still in the midst of the pandemic, cautious yet with a glint of optimism with the COVID-19 vaccine roll-out. Raising awareness of safe sex and sexually-transmitted diseases has become more relevant as the Philippines currently records 29 cases per day as of January 2021 according to the Department of Health (DOH). The agency has tagged HIV as a continuing public threat and has called for the continued cooperation and collaboration of all local communities, civil society organizations, key stakeholders, and the government in jointly addressing this pressing matter.

As part of its mission to protect Filipinos from the threats of sexually transmitted diseases such as HIV and AIDS, Durex continues to promote the importance of using proper protection during sexual intercourse through education and awareness programs. Durex carries on with its own impactful initiatives under its Protection and Preparedness Education (PPE) campaign.

Remaining as steadfast and driven as ever this 2021—despite the lingering challenges—Durex pursues its advocacy of raising awareness on the importance of condom use as means to help stop the HIV epidemic and the spread of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) in the country.

“During these times, we cannot afford to let our guard down,” says Matt Davis, Reckitt Philippines Marketing Director. “Just as COVID-19 remains to be of critical importance, so too are STIs and HIV. Durex will continue to do our share as a proactive private sector partner in building awareness and educating the public on the importance of protection.”

Thus, Durex will be continuing its donations to organizations including Love Yourself with which the brand has an ongoing full-year partnership, and the Commission on Population and Development (POPCOM), The Red Whistle, and the United Nation (UN) Women.

This Pride Month, Durex is one with the LGBTQ+ community in expressing and exploring their sex, sexuality, and gender identity with the ‘Wide open to love’ campaign. The campaign is aimed at empowering everyone to accept and celebrate their most authentic self while recognizing that the continuing HIV epidemic will end by using protection so that people can truly express their most authentic self. Watch Durex’ Wide Open Pride Online campaign on their Facebook page.

Teleperformance Philippines celebrates diversity and inclusion through TP Pride

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Teleperformance Philippines aims to be outspoken allies in support of Pride Month through recognizing the contributions and influence of the LGBTQ+ community. As part of its 25th Anniversary, Teleperformance Philippines is celebrating TP Pride, as it seeks to strengthen employee engagement and promote a diverse and inclusive culture through month-long festivities.

TP Pride is an initiative that kickstarted in 2018 that sought to raise awareness and educate Teleperformance employees about the experiences of LGBTQ+ individuals. Teleperformance aims to go all-out despite the ongoing pandemic by inaugurating a group of inspiring, formidable representatives of the LGBTQ+ community as the Pride Council tasked to lead the activities they have lined up for Pride Month.

Taking their advocacy to the workplace, Teleperformance will produce a forum called ‘Queeries: Leaders’ Discussion on LGBT Mental Health and Inclusion,’ guest-starring organizations such as Your Millennial Psychologist, Psychological Association of the Philippines Special Interest Group, Philippine Financial & Inter-Industry Pride, and Philippine LGBT COC, where they aim to educate leaders, decision makers, and LGBTQ+ colleagues on the value in creating and maintaining LGBTQ+ inclusive practices in the company.

Part of their efforts in pushing gender diversity in the workplace is the TP Traiblazer Podcast where special episodes feature TP Pride leaders and guests to share their views on LGBTQ+ relationships and Transgender inclusion. Along with this is the TPTV Pride Special Series inviting Teleperformance’s LGBTQ+ employees to provide resourceful insights on LGBTQ+ Pop Culture.

Teleperformance stands firm with the LGBTQ+ community through the Humanizing SOGIE and Faces of TP Pride digital flipbook displayed on various sites, exhibiting the profiles of SOGIE and TP Pride advocates.

Lastly, to help LGBTQ+ communities in distress, Teleperformance will host ‘TP Pride 4 Pride Challenge’, an online fundraiser to raise money for their chosen LGBTQ+ foundation. The funds will be used to provide 100 care packages composed of sanitary kits, masks, and food to support our LGBTQ+ friends in need.

“Here at Teleperformance, we strive to create a diverse and inclusive environment for our employees,” says Jeffrey Johnson, Senior Vice President for Human Capital Resource Management. “This year’s Pride Month celebration is just the beginning of a stronger, deeper year-long commitment to promote this advocacy in various branches of the company,” he continued.

Teleperformance will undertake an active cycle of inclusivity through consistent orientation and induction of the developing trends in the LGBTQ+ community. Teleperformance leaders also commit to uphold monthly participation in TP Pride activities like SOGIE sensitivity sessions, SOGIE 101 e-learning courses, and TP Tribe mentorship program, among others.

Teleperformance has always been a fervent advocate of diversity. As a member of the Philippine Financial and Inter-Industry Pride, they pledge to foster a safe and inclusive industry for the LGBTQ+ community. Last December 2020, Teleperformance partnered with SPARK Philippines, which pioneered the Humanizing SOGIE Exhibit. Strengthening their commitment for a safer and inclusive workplace, Jeffrey Johnson also joined a panel of distinguished HR professionals in a webinar hosted in 2020 by the Society for Human Resource Management, the world’s largest HR Organization, to address unconscious bias and how to bring about change within the organization.  

 

ABOUT TELEPERFORMANCE

Teleperformance (TEP – ISIN: FR0000051807 – Reuters: TEPRF.PA - Bloomberg: TEP FP), a leading global group in digitally integrated business services, serves as a strategic partner to the world’s largest companies in many industries. It offers a One Office support services model combining three wide, high-value solution families: customer experience management, back-office services and business process knowledge services. These end-to-end digital solutions guarantee successful customer interaction and optimized business processes, anchored in a unique, comprehensive high tech, high touch approach.

The Group's 383,000 employees, based in 83 countries, support billions of connections every year in over 265 languages and 170 markets, in a shared commitment to excellence as part of the “Simpler, Faster, Safer” process. This mission is supported by the use of reliable, flexible, intelligent technological solutions and compliance with the industry’s highest security and quality standards, based on Corporate Social Responsibility excellence.

In 2020, Teleperformance reported consolidated revenue of €5,732 million (US$ 6.5 billion, based on €1 = $1.14) and net profit of €324 million.

Teleperformance began operations in the Philippines in 1996 and has grown to become a preferred offshore contact center outsourcing option. The company employs over 45,000 people in the country and operates over 30,000 workstations in 22 business sites located across Metro Manila, Antipolo, Baguio, Bacolod, Cebu, Cagayan de Oro and Davao.

From 2012 to 2020, Teleperformance has received the Frost & Sullivan Asia Pacific Contact Center Outsourcing Service Provider of the Year Award for its significant performance in revenue management, market share, capabilities, and overall contribution to the contact center industry. In addition, Teleperformance Philippines was awarded as Outstanding Employer and Outstanding Community Project of the Year by the Philippine Economic Zone Authority (PEZA), the Top Employer of the Year and Corporate Social Responsibility Circle of Excellence at the Asia CEO Awards, and the Outstanding Volunteer by the National Economic Development Authority.

In 2020, Teleperformance Philippines was again certified as a Great Place to Work® and is the only organization in the country to receive this certification from the Great Place to Work® Institute for three years in a row. This 2021, Teleperformance celebrates its 25th year of continued excellence and leadership in the country. This milestone highlights the company’s commitment to steadily provide the best employment experience for Filipinos, proactively support the nation’s IT-BPM sector, and uphold its socio-civic engagements to create a difference in the lives of the Philippine community.

For further information, visit the Teleperformance website at teleperformance.ph

 

 

Google Philippines to hold Pride Conversations online event on YouTube to honor the LGBTQ+ community

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MANILA, Philippines--As part of the concluding celebration of Pride Month, Google will hold an online event called “Pride Conversations” to create a discussion and champion some of today’s inspiring members of the Filipino LGBTQ+ community. This will be streamed live on Google Philippines YouTube channel on June 30, 2020 at 5:00PM. 

The speakers of the event continue to bring pride to the LGBTQ+ community through their achievements in their respective fields. Taking part in the discussion are Antipolo City Barangay Councilor Kristine Ibardolaza; Plastic, Reconstructive, and Aesthetic Surgery Fellow Dr. Berry Beriña; motorcycle enthusiast and vlogger Gaki Azurin, more popularly known as “GakiMoto”; comedian, host, and YouTube creator Mikey Bustos; and Google Philippines Program Manager Melai Lopez. 

“Google is committed to inclusion and this Pride month, we’re excited to share how we always support the LGBTQ+ community in a number of ways--from sustaining a diverse workplace culture, to providing grants, to hosting events around the world to continue the discussion on equality,” said Mervin Wenke, Communications and PR Head for Google Philippines. “We are glad to further show this commitment through our products like Google Maps which is helping enable a virtual Pride March initiative this year.” 

A home to LGBTQ+ employees

Google fosters a diverse and inclusive culture where LGBTQ+ employees are respected, celebrated, and empowered. The company ensures that they enjoy the same opportunity to shine, be heard, and succeed in the organization just as much as any other employee. Below are just some of the benefits for Google’s LGBTQ+ employees around the world including the Philippines:

• Same-sex health benefits: Google is committed to and provide same-sex health coverage for Googlers and their partners. 
• Employee assistance program: Google offers free emotional wellbeing support, 24/7, 365 days for Googlers and their dependents, as well as access to free expert information on legal, financial, and other topics. These services are confidential. 
• Parental leave: 
• A non-birth parent has at least 12 weeks of paid parental leave to spend with a new child (any parent who has a child born or adopted). 

• A ramp-back policy to help a non-birth parent transition back to work after a long leave is available. 

Googlers also have the freedom of establishing their preferred pronouns (he, she, xe, they) so colleagues will know how to best address a LGBTQ+ employee in the workplace to show inclusion and respect. 

“At Google, the use of preferred pronouns lives beyond work profiles and email signatures. Before a meeting begins, we may ask each other our preferred pronouns to address our colleagues accordingly and show respect. This demonstrates that LGBTQ+ employees are important and are always included in the discussion,” shares Melai Lopez, a trans woman and a Program Manager at Google Philippines.

Melai adds, “Google encourages us to form and participate in employee resource groups like Pride@Google. With this, I am able to use my voice to spark necessary conversations in the company and to contribute to the external LGBTQ+ community through high-impact programs and initiatives."

The “Pride Conversations” live event is part of Google’s initiatives for Pride Month, championing LGBTQ+ personalities whose stories serve as an inspiration for the community. Tune in on June 30, 2020 at 5:00 PM (Ph time) at Google Philippines YouTube channel.

About Google

Google's mission is to organize the world's information and make it universally accessible and useful. Through products and platforms like Search, Maps, Gmail, Android, Google Play, Chrome and YouTube, Google plays a meaningful role in the daily lives of billions of people and has become one of the most widely-known companies in the world. Google is a subsidiary of Alphabet, Inc.