IBM a Good Company for Working Mothers in Korea
A talk between Belinda Tang, Vice President of IBM and Hee-Jung Kim, Minister of Gender Equality and Family of Korea
Asia Society's Global Talent and Diversity Council member Belinda Tang, Vice President of Leadership and Diversity at IBM met with Hee-Jung Kim, the Minister of Gender Equality and Family of South Korea on April 13, 2015. The two shared opinions and engaged in a dialogue on how companies and corporate culture can change to better accomodate and meet the needs of working mothers. IBM has been recognized as one of the best companies to work for by Working Mother Media for the past 30 consecutive years. Among IBM's 385,000 employees from 170 countries around the world, over 30% are female and two-thirds of the female executives at IBM are "working mothers."' Chosun Ilbo covered the discussion between the two and an excerpt is included below.
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Kim: When companies are performing well, they invest in work and life balance or diversity such as race, gender and nationality. However, when companies' performance are not good, they tend to put priority on productivity, rather than diversity. Did IBM encounter such trouble in the past?
Belinda: Companies will remain firm, on diversity by setting solid value and principle, even if business condition changes. IBM established a diversity principle, in 1953, stating, "IBM will not allow any type of discrimination." This principle is respected regardless of the company's performance. And it should be the CEOs' agenda, not the one for HR division.
Kim: Korea has implemented the "Best Family Friendly Company" policy to establish corporate culture. The highest score has been given to the "CEO's commitment" when selecting certified companies. In fact, the best family-friendly certified companies have higher sales figures and employee satisfaction rate.
Belinda: It is a very good policy. This year, IBM has been celebrating for being selected as one of "Working Mother 100 Best Companies" by Working Mother Magazine in the US for 30 consecutive years. We take the 400-question survey very seriously and constantly think about "what IBM can do more for our employees." It is because these various questionnaires ask the company, "why is your company the best company?" from diverse viewpoints.
Kim: In October last year, the Korean government adopted "daddy month" policy, which pays KRW 500,000 more parental leave pay in the first month for the parent who takes the second parental leave. Due to the social cognition that only women use parental leave, the women are reluctant to use the policy. Thus, the government established the policy to encourage men to take advantage of parental leave.
Belinda: At IBM, all male and female employees are able to take not only parental leave but also family care leave, adoption leave and flexible working hours. These policies are actively implemented, because employees are being evaluated on their "performance," rather than " how much time spent on work."
Kim: We have adopted various policies, but it will take more time to establish these labor cultures for proper utilization.
Belinda: The utilization of female talent is, ultimately, concluded as the issue of companies recruiting the most outstanding talents. If companies do not create an environment that supports their employees, it is obvious that outstanding employees will go to other companies. I cannot forget the moment when my former manger asked, "Do you have any family-related concerns? If you need help, just say it." The employees' work and life should not be separated, but be respected as one. And this is a key to increasing productivity. One of the popular employee services of IBM is the college admission supporting service for employees' children. The executives and 50,000 team managers are educated to respect the balance between the work and family of their employees.
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Kim and Belinda are both "working mothers." Kim said, "I feel like making war everyday by raising two preschoolers, but I also maintain a sense of reality through witnessing how the government policies are applied in practice while doing parenting. Belinda, who had continued volunteering works at schools and hospitals amid her busy schedule, said, "I've learned a lot from doing volunteer activities as well as my work at IBM. The leader's confidence comes from all integrated experiences inside and outside the company, not only from the work at the company."
[Source: Chosun Ilbo, "워킹맘이 다니기 좋은 기업, CEO 어젠다로 삼아야". April 14, 2015.]