Unite’s DEI Day: a celebration of cultural richness at the workplace

 It was the sharing of one such personal story that inspired many of us to dress up in traditional outfits or wear something that resonated with us.

In a heart-to-heart with Unite’s newly formed voluntary DEI - Employee Resource Group (ERG), our IT colleague, Zohaib Jawaid, shared how he had considered packing traditional menswear from Pakistan (Shalwar Kameez) for last year’s summer party but decided against it because he didn’t want to stand out from the crowd.  

Unitees dress up for DEI Day

In the ERG meeting, a collective consensus emerged, grounded in the belief that we should all bring our most comfortable selves to work. After all, Unite has cultivated such an amazing, open corporate culture that encourages authenticity. Many conversations and consultations later, an email announcing the first initiative of the DEI-ERG, inviting Unitees to dress up for DEI Day on 14 September, was sent out. In parallel, Teresa Garcia Corbalan, a doctoral student seconded to Unite, extended a warm invitation for a ‘bring-your-own-food’ luncheon at the Marketplace. 
 
The two initiatives dovetailed nicely, and the Marketplace transformed into a melting pot of diverse cuisines and cultures. It was a table of abundance, with the Spanish team bringing cheese and ham while our colleagues from Asia and Africa tantalised our tastebuds with sweets like cashew fudges covered in edible silver, dried mango dusted with sugar, and savoury snacks made from lentil flour.  Board Members Peter Ledermann and Christel Constant also enjoyed the lunch.

Food and conversations

Amidst this colourful feast, engaging conversations emerged - on traditional costumes and how some countries have plenty and others few – and what constitutes cultural appropriation or appreciation.  
In the spirit of appreciation, Amruta Pallewar, our Senior Tech Recruiter, delighted her teammates by bringing traditional Indian attire.