At DFI Retail Group, we embrace diversity as a vital part of our culture. At IKEA Hong Kong’s Shatin store, our team members show how an inclusive mindset lays the foundation for a strong, effective team.

It all started when the Kitchen team was alarmed by its high vacancy rate. Due to manpower shortage, team members had to take on increased workload, leading in turn to high staff turnover. To break this cycle, Jack Ng, Kitchen Production Manager, took proactive steps to address the issue. He hoped to create a more diverse team that embraces fresh talents with varied abilities.

With the support from our dedicated People and Culture (P&C) team , his team spearheaded a welcoming and accessible recruitment process for hearing-impaired individuals. Through store walks, job scope briefing and experience sharing sessions, they gave potential candidates a clear picture of the job, while helping current team members better understand the unique needs of hearing impaired people. To further promote inclusivity, he invited his team to learn sign language together. This prepared the team to work more cohesively with people with different communication needs.

His commitment to embrace differences extends beyond team members. To bridge communication gaps between hearing impaired team members and customers, Jack collaborated with the P&C team and the Communication and Interior Design team to create a special badge for team members with hearing needs. This visual tool encourages customers to engage with patience and understanding. Additionally, Jack also utilised various tools and apps, such as the voice-to-text function and sign language learning apps to enhance communication and ensure that all team members feel heard and supported.

By focusing on diversity and inclusion, we are not only improving our operations, but also strengthening IKEA’s brand image. We are proud to lead by example, demonstrating that when we respect each other, we thrive together.