For the second year running Kiwi supermarket chain Countdown is supporting the Auckland Pride Parade with the entire country’s staff encouraged to march in the parade with the Countdown Ponsoby team this Saturday night.
To celebrate the event, all of the Countdown Ponsonby team have swapped out their regular uniforms for brightly coloured t-shirts in a show of support for Pride month.
Aucklanders in the CBD will also catch a glimpse of Countdown’s online delivery truck, which has transformed into colourful rainbow flags for the month of February.
Countdown Ponsonby has several team members who are part of the rainbow community and Brad Rossiter, Acting Store Manager is ensuring that this year, the wider Countdown team will be able to be involved in the parade.
“We’ve put out an invitation to all our 18,000 team to help support our Ponsonby team and join in the celebrations walking down Ponsonby Road as part of the festival,” he said.
Lauren Voyce, General Manager Culture and People, said Countdown is currently working towards a Rainbow Tick accreditation as part of its ongoing commitment to LGBITQ+, and being part of the Pride Parade is another way of celebrating diversity within our team and communities.
“At Countdown, regardless of people’s age, ethnicity, beliefs, sexual orientation or gender identity, it is important that all our team feel respected and valued when they come to work with us,” said Voyce.
“We’re one of the largest employers in the country and it’s our responsibility to ensure that we are leading our sector, introducing new and innovative policies for our team so that we continue to be a great place to work.”
One of these initiatives was the introduction last year of the company’s Transgender Transitioning policy, which focuses on Countdown’s responsibilities as an employer to provide an inclusive environment, as well as practical assistance available for team members who are transitioning gender.
“We were proud to be the first company in New Zealand to introduce a transitioning gender policy. We have received so much positive feedback from our own teams and organisations within the LGBITQ+ community, and the important thing is that it’s being used and is helpful.”
Last Updated on Feb 16, 2018
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