U Matter: Future Forward Females
By Rachelle Ann Tolentino
At UnionBank, we believe that the future includes everyone. In our 40th year, we reinforce our commitment to an equal opportunity, diverse, gender-balance, and inclusive workplace.
While it is standard to call it DEI or Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion initiatives, emphasizing equity would give more meaning to our efforts to set up a platform for a fair opportunity organization.
Aligned with this year’s International Women’s Day theme #BreaktheBias, UnionBank aims to break the bias that women cannot lead and amplify how we have been setting the bar in enabling and empowering female leaders and employees in the Bank.
We envision creating programs that would cater to the welfare of women in the workplace and build a support group that embraces all kinds of women – new mothers, mothers, solo parents, widows, etc., in the workplace.
UnionBank is proud that women in the workplace are well-represented across all ranks. As of December 2021, the percentage of women in the bank’s 3676 strong workforce is 62%.
Across all ranks, women have the highest percentage in the junior management positions at 66% and management positions as a close second at 58%.
Women in Tech Jobs
As UnionBank transforms itself into a Tech company with Banking capabilities, the roles in the bank changed tremendously in the past five years, making way for more female employees to seize opportunities in tech-related roles that will shape the future of banking and shape a better future for all UnionBankers.
Ensuring LGBTQ+ Inclusion in the Workplace
As UnionBank strengthens its commitment to support diversity, equity, and inclusion in the organization, its HMO benefits now include LGBTQ+ and common-law partners as dependents of its team members.
This policy is also a nod to the UN Sustainable Development Goals, specifically SDG 5: Reducing Inequalities. Beginning October 1, 2021, all employees with a legal civil status of “single” have the option of listing their LGBTQ+ or common-law partners as one of their dependents under the health insurance policy of the company. As a listed dependent, these partners are entitled to the same medical coverage as the spouse of a legally married employee.