People - Employer

Peter, what is your relationship like with BT Diversity / HR.

Peter Davies BT Christian Network
Strong relationship with HR now. We respect HR, they have a role to play to make sure the company runs well. Over the 5 years, BT HR have come to trust us, we’ve build up an element of trust, reliability and dependable work colleagues. We don’t have a good idea and go behind their backs and do it. We are open and honest with them, if we have a big idea – we go and seek permission.

What concerns / issues have you had? What did you do? What was the outcome?

Not all our ideas have been welcomed with open arms. It’s about sitting down and discussing the issues potential probs with HR or other diversity groups so a greater understanding can be brought about.

Do you have any examples?

We are now authorised to run Alpha in BT. Didn’t come about over night. We have written a code of conduct that fits within the diversity scheme. Also we have a questionnaire that we ask delegates to fill after a session. It helps us check that we delivered the material inline with diversity.

What are the results of Alpha?

Alpha groups vary in size and yes a number of colleagues have found faith through Alpha. Others haven’t. A number of colleagues from different faiths have been on the course, in particular we had a Buddhist colleague who did a session and said that the course was helpful in helping him understand the Christian faith more.

Adrian Holloway How do you get on with Diversity / HR?

They were at first opposed to us. They couldn’t see why we existed, what the point of us was. BUT as a CWG we showed love to them and invited their rep to the lunchtime group and she came. HR relationship grew over time and especially when we helped them appoint a Chaplain to the council. We were able to sit on the Chaplaincy panel along with the Chief Exec and other senior leaders so we were recognised in that area. It was great because issues that HR discovered with the workforce could be referred to the chaplain. Now we’ve changed authority we have to start to build those relationships up again. We don’t have a chaplain now but we have offered our services to HR because a number of our group have some counselling experience.