14 MAY 2019 • FOGHORN FOGHORNFOCUS: HUMAN RESOURCES PROTECTING OVER 1 MILLION LIVES EVERY DAY Survitec is the number 1 global supplier of innovative safety and survival solutions on passenger vessels. In addition to our flexible liferaft agreements we offer MES, lifeboats, rescue boats, fire safety and suppression, lifejackets, immersion suits, distress signals, electronics and much more. CONTACT US TODAY: (800) 931-3221 | (604) 278-3221 vancouver.sales@survitecgroup.com SURVITECGROUP.COM SCA0154A Ad - Foghorn 2018.indd 2 18/07/2018 16:13:30 which helps management identify areas of excellence and where improve- ments could be made. Svendsen said that surveys spe- cifically ask employees about diversity and inclusion to evaluate D&I’s impor- tance to the company’s team members. Over the years, Svendsen said that it’s clear that the operation’s emphasis on a positive D&I environment is a key factor in employee morale and a reason why they stay with the company. In addition, Entertainment Cruises also gauges guest experiences, and Svendsven says there is evidence that its diverse workforce is favorably viewed by its customer base. Happy customers, he maintains, further boosts employees job satisfaction. “Retention rate has never been as high for frontline staffers,” Svendsen said. A high retention rate is important in a hot job market, particularly in an industry like the passenger vessel industry where seasonal jobs are often the norm. The ability to have good employees return for duty is vital. Diversity = Innovation Forbes Insights, the strategic research arm of Forbes Media, published a report several years ago, Innovation Through Diversity. This report is based on interviews with 321 execu- tives of large international companies with revenues over $500 million from the Americas, Asia-Pacific, Europe, Africa and the Middle East. It found that diversity is absolutely essential to innovation: “Diversity is a key driver of innovation and is a critical component of being successful on a global scale. Senior executives are recognizing that a diverse set of experiences, perspec- tives, and backgrounds is crucial to in- novation and the development of new ideas. When asked about the relation- ship between diversity and innova- tion, a majority of respondents agreed that diversity is crucial to encouraging different perspectives and ideas that foster innovation.” Recently, Forbes Magazine contribu- tor Sheree Atcheson wrote in an article, “If you want to create a diverse solution or product, you need a diverse team and leadership.” Which, of course, makes perfect sense. If you want to dif- ferentiate your operation from other nearby attractions, you need input from a variety of perspectives. Svendsen agrees. “If you have seven people with the same idea, you probably won’t be able to solve the problem you’re tasked with,” he said. “Surround yourself with people who look and think differently than yourself to create innovative solutions.” Positive Branding In today’s highly competitive market, corporations are often on the frontline of consumers’ wrath when there’s an issue that publicly demon- strates perceived discrimination or bias against minorities or other vulnerable groups and individuals. Starbucks and