Home Credit Philippines, a recognized leader in diversity, equity and inclusion and an equal opportunity employer, officially announced the launch of its Pride Club, a group of LGBTQ+ employees tasked with leading the organization’s efforts to promote inclusivity in the workplace.
June is an important month for the LGBTQ+ community in the Philippines as it marks the start of Pride Month celebrations. Every year, various civil society organisations, advocacy groups and organizations hold Pride parades, usually ending with a Pride parade.
Companies participate in these celebrations by making public statements of support, hosting their own pride events, or a combination of the three. Home Credit Philippines, the leading consumer credit provider in the country, has been a staunch supporter of this cause.
In 2022, the company participated in the Pride PH: Alab for Love celebration held in Quezon City, Philippines, sending nearly 200 employees to participate in Pride March. It is also supporting the Iloilo Pride Team, organizers of the Iloilo Pride Parade, during the Pride Pyesta event in Iloilo City in November 2023.
Home Credit Philippines has also been recognized for its diversity, equity and inclusion practices, in addition to the company’s public pride engagement. These include the Asia CEO Awards – Outstanding Diversity Company of the Year, the 2022 United Nations Women’s Empowerment Principles (UN WEP) Transparency and Reporting Awards, and the 2023 Gold Stevie Award for Diversity and Inclusion.
DEI is also the focus of the company’s environmental, social and governance programs. Highlight its diverse workforce of more than 14,000 employees, 52 percent of whom are women. Its board also includes five female executives.
Home Credit has been actively working with advocacy partners to strengthen its DEI policies and programs. In 2022, the company joined the Philippine Coalition for Women’s Empowerment (PBCWE) and the Philippine LGBT Chamber of Commerce (PLCC) to further solidify its commitment to workplace inclusion.
Last year, the company completed the Gender Equality Assessment Results and Strategy (GEARS) in partnership with PBCWE to understand its strategic gaps, opportunities and strengths in gender equality in the workplace.
#PrideAtHomeCredit Philippines
In 2023, Home Credit Philippines reaffirmed this commitment by launching the company’s Pride Club, an employee resource group that will lead and support DEI and workplace inclusion initiatives in the organization.
“At Home Credit Philippines, DEI and workplace inclusion are important to us. We have always supported these causes as part of how we care for our employees and create safe spaces where our employees can be themselves and thrive ,” said Alpha Omega Aquino, Chief People Officer, Home Credit Philippines.
Through its People, Culture and Development team, Home Credit Philippines organized the opening of the Pride Club 2022.
“The launch of our Home Credit Pride team marks a more collaborative approach to developing equitable and inclusive policies and practices for our organization. It also empowers our employees to advocate for causes that matter to them.” Alpha added.
Meet the Home Credit PH Pride Club Team
Home Credit Pride Club has more than 200 members in the Philippines and is positioned to lead the company’s Pride at Home Credit Philippines campaign. On June 14 last year, the club released a manifesto video #AtHomeKaDito in which club officials shared how Home Credit is an equal opportunity employer and encouraged job seekers to join the company.
“On behalf of Home Credit’s LGBTQ+ employees, we want to share how the company supports and empowers us. Our pride video showcases the diversity of our employees at SOGIE and how we are celebrated for our contributions, regardless of our gender orientation and identity. As a proud trans woman, I’ve always felt right at home in my 5 years as a Home Credit employee,” said Janna De Castro, Collections Program Specialist and HCPH Pride Club President.
As an equal opportunity employer, Home Credit Philippines provides fair benefits to its LGBTQ+ employees, including wellness leave, gender-neutral restrooms, and an HMO for family partners, among others.
“The goal of our club is to be a reliable partner to our company in strengthening our DEI policies and programs. Ultimately, we want to be an institutionalized employee resource group that can come together to develop initiatives and programs that are beneficial and add value, not only members of our club, our staff, and the communities we serve,” said publicist Russel Patina, relationship manager and vice president of HC Pride Club.
Since opening in 2013, Home Credit Philippines has served nearly 10 million Filipinos through its brands and businesses. Now heading into a new decade, the company is expected to continue to grow and provide more credit opportunities to more Filipinos. In addition to this growth, it continues to support the pillar of its success – its people; building a diverse and inclusive workplace where everyone can bring out their best and feel at home.
