Diversity and inclusion at Xero

Our policy and principles

Xero actively supports diversity and inclusion in the workplace. We recognise that a diverse workforce is a strength that enables businesses, including ours, to better understand and serve customers, attract top talent and innovate successfully. As a result, our diversity work has been led by a Head of Diversity, Inclusion and Community since 2017.

Our approach to diversity and inclusion is summed up in our key principles:

• We value diversity because it reflects and serves our customers and ensures our people thrive.

• We’re all accountable to create an inclusive culture.

• We’re committed to attracting diverse talent and hiring fairly.

• We support flexible ways of working.

• We’re committed to equal pay for equal work.     

• We have an obligation to champion diversity and inclusion in the community.

Read more
Xero’s diversity and inclusion policy
Xero’s inside-out culture
Be the change you want to see in your business

Creating an inclusive work environment

We know diversity is important but it is through inclusion that we really tap into the potential and power of our differences. Inclusion means all Xeros have a sense of belonging and fairness, feel valued and respected, and can play their part in creating business success.

Some examples of the ways we create an inclusive work environment include:

• promoting flexible working options and achieving a highly commended recognition in the Diversity Works work/life balance category in New Zealand

• delivering training on topics including diversity, inclusion and bias awareness

• running surveys to capture feedback on the extent to which employees feel that Xero is an inclusive workplace

• running awareness events and workshops on mental health and wellbeing

• expanding our definition of sick leave and positioning it as ‘Wellbeing Leave’ to encourage our people to look after their overall health and wellbeing

• introducing ‘Lifestyle Leave’ in 2019 as a way for our employees to purchase additional leave and spread the cost of this across a six or 12 month period

• Craig Hudson, Managing Director New Zealand & Pacific Islands, at Xero won the 2019 Walk the Talk Award for “stepping up as a leader to talk about his personal experience with mental health and creating a workplace culture of sharing and psychological safety. The launch of the Xero Assistance Programme also widened his impact from the team to customers”

• having ‘welcome messages’ displayed in the Xero offices in Auckland and Wellington rotate through the 50+ languages spoken by Xero employees

• being a member of the Australian Network on Disability and signing up to the Government’s Disability Confident Scheme in the United Kingdom

• developing an internal ‘Welcome to and Acknowledgement of Country’ guide to support indigenous awareness in Australia

• celebrating our cultural diversity through various initiatives including shared cultural celebrations and lunches

Read more
Standing up for mental health
The small things that make a BIG impact on inclusion
Pause for a mental health check
Supporting our staff’s wellbeing on World Mental Health Day
Mental health at work
Tech Outreach in Action

Gender diversity at Xero

At Xero, focusing on gender diversity has always been a priority for us as we’re keen to get more women into the tech sector, ensure we have a good balance of females across our management levels, and remove any roadblocks to gender equality in all aspects of life at Xero. We know this drives better business outcomes not only for Xero but for our small business partners and customers.

The following stats show the gender composition of the Xero board, leadership team, and employees as at 31 March 2019:

• Xero Board – 43% female

• Xero leadership team – 50% female

• Xero employees – 42% female  

We also think it’s important to shine a spotlight on and celebrate our female Xero customers and partners who are shaping the world of small business across the globe. This was a focus of our #pressforprogress campaign for International Women’s Day 2018 – watch our video.

Encouraging women into technology

We are committed to getting more women into the tech sector through a number of initiatives including:

• sponsorship and support of Code Like a Girl’s events, coding camps (kids and adults) and internship programmes

• hosting or sponsoring many events for girls and women in tech including; Tech Girls Movement, Girl Geek Dinners, GirlbossNZ Future CEO summits, Spirit and Soul, She Loves Data, Ladies That UX, WomenHack, Tech Leading Ladies, Women's Tech Network and Finding Ada

• championing the development of STEM careers through initiatives including the Xero Vacation Program and Xero Graduate Program

• shining a spotlight on the importance of gender equality through International Women’s Day, running local events across our offices

Read more
Techweek NZ: Our events in Hawke's Bay
Celebrating #BalanceforBetter with small business and tech leaders on International Women’s Day
Keeping the balance Kiwi style
Balance for better and what it means to us
Challenging expectations is the true meaning of International Women’s Day
Balance and belonging on IWD2019
Collaborating to create #balanceforbetter

Hiring for diversity

We use diverse channels to hire staff, including:

• listing jobs on Work180 and VERCIDA to promote diversity in hiring

• using General Assembly to reach diverse candidates

• piloting an internship with Specialisterne, an organisation which supports employment of people on the autism spectrum

• hiring through non traditional pathways including the Asylum Seeker Resource Centre in Australia and the New Zealand Red Cross’s Pathways to Employment programme – read their story
  
• participating in the TupuToa internship programme in New Zealand

Learn more
See how we support employment for people from under-represented groups in the community. Check out the Xero careers page for more details about working at Xero.

Increasing LGBTI inclusion and awareness

At Xero, we want to create a culture of belonging, where differences not only exist but where they are respected, supported and fully celebrated. It’s about ensuring our people can be their authentic self, and flourish in an environment where they feel accepted and know they belong. LGBTI awareness and support is an important part of creating an inclusive culture at Xero.

We undertake a number of initiatives to promote LGBTI awareness at Xero:

• Xero is a member of Pride in Diversity in Australia and Stonewall in the United Kingdom.
• Xero has achieved the Rainbow Tick in New Zealand in recognition of our inclusive workplace.
• We provide LGBTI awareness and education across some of our offices.
• We provide an option in our internal personnel system for employees to update their pronoun preferences.
• Xero supports employee participation in local pride parades and do so under the Xero banner.

Read more
Celebrating diversity at Xero
Xero NZ awarded the Rainbow Tick