Kennedys

Diversity at Kennedys:

• Regional DE&I Groups

  In 2020, we created five regional DE&I Groups (Asia Pacific, Europe, Middle East and Africa, Latin America and the Caribbean, North America, and the United Kingdom) where members meet regularly and are empowered to share their ideas, discuss new initiatives and advise on what more we could be doing. We also created a global DE&I Group which comprises members from each regional group and meets on an annual basis. The global DE&I Group is chaired by our Managing Partner, Suzanne Liversidge, who ensures the Board remains informed, accountable and fully committed to our diversity and inclusion agenda.

  Anyone can apply to join the regional DE&I Groups. This is a great opportunity to shape the future of diversity, equity and inclusion at Kennedys and really make a difference. However, you don’t need to formally join the regional DE&I groups to get involved . We actively encourage all employees to take part in activities that will help create, maintain and promote a diverse and inclusive culture at Kennedys. For example, you can get involved  by volunteering as a mentor, taking part in DE&I events as a speaker, host or organiser, or representing Kennedys at outreach events. You’ll be invited to our regular ‘Let’s start the conversation’ webinars with guest speakers covering topics such as mental health, Black Lives Matter, LGBTQ+ inclusion and Asperger syndrome. Diversity, equity and inclusion is a priority at Kennedys. This is why we introduced DE&I chargeable hour credit. This means that time you spend on DE&I activities will be recognised and can count towards your chargeable hours target.

   

• LGBTQ+ inclusion

  We are fully committed to creating a workplace in which everyone can be themselves. This is why we actively promote LGBTQ+ inclusion and each year celebrate Pride. We do the best we can to ensure that all our people, regardless of their sexual orientation and gender identity feel welcome, respected and are represented at work, wherever we operate in the world. We have a Pride hub page where we include all the latest news, campaigns, initiatives, resources and activities. Our Pride page is here to create awareness of LGBTQ+ topics by educating, encouraging allyship and creating a safe space. In 2022, we partnered with myGwork, the business community for LGBTQ+ professionals, students and inclusive employers. We are also proud sponsors of Link, a professional network for members of the LGBTQ+ community and their allies in the insurance sector.

  In January 2023, we created the Kennedys Rainbow Network, a global employee-driven networking group that consists of LGBTQ+ employees and allies. The purpose of the network is to support LGBTQ+ people (both out and not out) across the Kennedys regions.

   

• Gender equality

  Gender equality and diversity is a priority at Kennedys. In 2021, we set up a Board-level working group to improve gender diversity at partnership level. The group works closely with the DE&I team to drive change and connects with gender focused organisations. We also have a Women in LATAM group and run Women in Business series events each year. To support our female talent we offer coaching and mentoring sessions. We regularly review our policies and processes to ensure they are fair, inclusive and gender neutral. In 2020 we achieved our 30% female partnership goal and have further set an aspirational goal of 40% by 2030.

  In 2022 we partnered with Peppy to offer personalised, expert support to our people on a wide range of health topics including women’s health, fertility and menopause.

• Wellbeing

  Providing a healthy working environment and improving the quality of people’s working life is of the utmost importance to Kennedys. We aim to promote and support our people’s physical, mental and financial wellbeing by offering a comprehensive package of resources and benefits (e.g. fitness subsidy, Private Medical Insurance, discounted health screenings). We have a range of interventions intended to support everyone. We offer virtual classes which provide tools and techniques to manage wellbeing, build resilience and support productivity whilst remote working. All employees at Kennedys can access the Headspace app for free. Headspace is a global leader in mindfulness and meditation. Since October 2021 everyone at the firm is offered a Wellbeing Day which they can take anytime during the year.

  We have also been thinking about what mental health and wellbeing means to us at Kennedys, which is why we  reached out to all of our people to find out what wellbeing means to everyone, and the things that colleagues do that help with their mental health. Colleagues from around the world shared their practices on our wellbeing page.

• Working families

  We know that people don’t just leave their personal lives at the door when they come into work (or when they log on at home). And the pandemic, with all its challenges, has undoubtedly made achieving a work-life balance harder. Many of our people are managing work alongside family responsibilities. In fact, according to our 2021 Global DE&I Survey, 42% of people across Kennedys have caring responsibilities.

  This is why in January 2021, we set up a Working Families page. We wanted to create a community space for working families, where people can share hints, tips and information which have helped them and may benefit other colleagues across the globe who are juggling the same commitments. On this page you can also find all the available HR policies and resources which relate to working families at Kennedys and further information on how these can be of support and benefit to you.

• Race, ethnicity and cultural diversity

  Kennedys recently created a cultural and ethnic diversity network which aims to advance racial inclusion and celebrate heritage and cultural differences. The purpose of the network is to support minority and ethnically diverse colleagues through: networking; raising awareness of issues and challenges; celebrating heritage and cultural diversity. This network will be officially launching in 2023 and is sponsored by two Partners.