Workplace

Diversity and Inclusion

RBC is considered a leader in diversity. We promote diversity by playing a leadership role and raising awareness, and through training, employee resource groups and other programs to support diversity.

Workforce Composition Progress Report

The composition of our workforce is an important measure of how well our diversity efforts are working. Diversity initiatives can take several years to show results, making year-over-year comparisons less meaningful than longer-term ones.

Leadership

To create and sustain a diverse, inclusive and collaborative work environment, people at all levels of the organization must be engaged. Our President and CEO chairs the RBC Diversity Leadership Council, created to establish strategies and goals, and to have RBC senior-level diversity champions in place in North America and the United Kingdom. In addition, individual business units have diversity leadership councils that help advance diversity and inclusion. Our leaders are also active outside the RBC workplace. We believe progress in diversity is a societal objective and we can learn from one another. Our leaders participate in various public discussions, panels and workshops that focus on promoting diversity in the workplace.

Raising Diversity Awareness

RBC promotes diversity by sharing our knowledge and encouraging discussion of its impact on business, communities and the economy. For example, RBC sponsors a study by Catalyst Canada and Ryerson University on the career development and advancement of visible minorities in corporate Canada. In 2008, Catalyst Canada released the fourth part of this study that addressed workplace fit and stereotyping of visible minorities in corporate Canada. The study showed that, like organizations in other countries, Canadian businesses appear to be suffering from "imperfect execution" of diversity and inclusion policies. The study also highlights strategies for companies to help them leverage the talents of visible minority employees more fully.

In 2008, we created the RBC Diversity Blueprint™ which sets out our corporate diversity strategy, priorities and objectives. The purpose of the blueprint is to outline how we will continue to improve our diversity position in Canada, strengthen our existing diversity and inclusion efforts in the U.S. and internationally, and where necessary, develop new initiatives that support our commitment to diversity.

Training and Mentoring

RBC is committed to ongoing learning, coaching and mentoring to ensure we develop and support a rich and diverse workforce. Employee diversity training initiatives include:

• Business Excellence through Diversity: Workshops were attended by over 380 employees globally.
  
  
• Respectful Workplace: Almost all U.S. employees completed this program that helps individuals understand and comply with our Code of Conduct and respectful workplace policy, which state that all employees have the right to work in an environment free from harassment, discrimination and offensive behaviour.
  
  
• Extensive self-study materials are available through our internal website, Destination Diversity.
  
  
• RBC Diversity Dialogues: Our reciprocal mentoring program was expanded to more than 200 employees. This program connects two people with different professional experiences and backgrounds to learn about leadership and diversity from each other.

Employee Resource Groups

Employee resource groups are self-governing networks of employees that help their members develop personally and professionally through peer mentoring, coaching and networking. These groups help cultivate an inclusive work environment by fostering a better understanding of their needs. Groups that are formally recognized by RBC receive an annual budget and communications support from the company.

In Canada, we have employee resource groups representing Aboriginal employees (Royal Eagles); lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgendered employees (PRIDE); and employees with disabilities (REACH). This year, RBC launched a new employee resource group - MOSAIC, which supports new Canadians and visible minorities. In the U.S., we have groups representing gay and lesbian employees (GLADE) and minority employees (MEA). As well, women brokers are supported by the Women's Association of Financial Consultants, a resource group that fosters the productivity and success of women financial consultants through a wide range of information, events and programs.

Programs to Support Diversity

We participate in a number of external and internal programs that support diversity. For instance, for the past 12 years, we have successfully partnered with the Career Edge organization to provide paid internships to students. Since 2003, approximately 300 employers have provided meaningful work experiences to over 920 Career Bridge interns. RBC has provided internship positions to over 70 qualified professionals through the Career Bridge program for newcomers to Canada, including 28 in 2008. RBC has also provided over 85 internships for graduates with disabilities through the Ability Edge program, including 21 in 2008. Approximately 70% of interns in both programs join RBC as full-time employees following their internships.

Many of our internal policies and programs promote diversity at all levels of the company by providing the flexibility and support that many employees need to manage work and life. This includes:

Access to personal work/life counselling services



Maternity, parental and family responsibility leave



The option of returning from leaves gradually or in an alternative work arrangement



Emergency backup eldercare and childcare in several major centres.