It is the first regional-based firm in Tauranga to receive the certification
Cooney Lees Morgan (CLM) has earned the Rainbow Tick, making it the first regional-based firm in Tauranga to do so.
“This year our firm was the principal sponsor of Tauranga Moana Pride Picnic, and we have previously raised funds for Rainbow Youth. We also sponsor Pride in Health, a trust aimed at improving healthcare knowledge and confidence for the LGBTTQIA+ population,” said Cecilia Burgess, CEO at CLM. “As a firm, we wrote a submission on the previous Government’s Conversion Practices Prohibition Legislation Bill.”
Burgess also highlighted the firm’s Inclusion Team, which is made up of employees “from all levels within our firm including senior management and the partnership team.”
“This Inclusion Team has Rainbow and LGBTTQIA+ representation in its membership, and works to embed diversity and inclusion policies and recruitment practices within our workplace,” she explained.
Moreover, the firm developed a policy to support transgender employees who are undergoing their transition at work. CLM has also offered guidance to managers on providing support to transitioning employees.
The firm also set up gender-neutral bathroom facilities and encouraged staff participation in events like Pink Shirt Day (anti-bullying) and Wear It Purple Day (Rainbow Youth).
“Our aim is to continuously learn and grow with the wider Rainbow community to ensure that all the needs of our Rainbow staff are being met,” stated Burgess.
In order to attain the Rainbow Tick certification, CLM said that it set benchmarks in “internal polices, support for internal diversity groups, the provision of educational resources and facilities for staff who are transgender, non-binary or contemplating transition, and support for wider rainbow community initiatives.”
