Clara Wierda is one of the six dignity and respect advisers for TAUW Netherlands and Syntraal. Regular refresher training and peer review groups are part of her job as a certified Dignity and Respect Adviser. In addition to their own job and their work for advisees, the Dignity and Respect Advisers issue an annual report and offer solicited and unsolicited advice to management.

What does a Dignity and Respect Adviser do?
Clara: “Our main job is to listen to the person reporting a problem. It doesn’t matter who that person is, staff or management. We offer a sympathetic ear, make helpful suggestions and give hands-on advice, if requested. We can’t solve the problem for the advisee, so for example, if someone has an issue with a supervisor and wants to discuss the problem with them, we won’t represent the employee in that meeting, but we are happy to come along to support them.”

Lessons learned
“TAUW Eindhoven is known as a very friendly, informal location with a close-knit team of staff. Then reports of unfair treatment started to reach us. After talking to people there, we learned that the distinctive office culture was creating misunderstandings with newcomers. So with an outside agency, we organised workshops for the entire Eindhoven unit to create awareness about conduct and explain how some behaviours can be perceived as unwelcome. The workshops centred on teaching the effect of our behaviour on others. For example, learning to see when someone is feeling uncomfortable based on their body posture.” The workshop that was held in Eindhoven is now being repeated at the other TAUW Netherlands locations.

Diversity and inclusion is an important topic for us and that means learning to be diverse and inclusive. We have a responsibility to ensure that everyone feels at home with us.