In this blog series "Discussing Diversity," Day One Agency HR Coordinator Caitlyn Janusz answers questions about diversity, equity and inclusion and how Day One Agency contributes to a welcoming workplace environment for all.
 

What is the overall mission of Day One Agency?

Our goal at Day One Agency is to create an environment of belonging that best reflects the world we live in and the clients we serve, through building and promoting great diversity, equity and inclusion practices within our agency. We strive to establish a space where everyone is empowered to be their unique self, regardless of race, color, ethnicity, national origin, religion, medical condition, marital status, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, age, class or differently abled status.
 

How do you incorporate values of diversity, equity and inclusion in the workplace?

We ensure that we tackle DE&I through two clear ways: measurement and reporting, as well as being accountable and transparent. Measurement is key to tracking our progress. On a quarterly basis, we report our scorecard to show gender and ethnic diversity representation by level. We also hold ourselves accountable by sharing our diversity metrics and progress against our goals with both our internal teams and clients. Day One champions diversity, equity and inclusion by building lasting internal initiatives that drive our agency forward across three areas of focus: recruiting, advancing, and retaining and engaging all employees.
 

What DE&I programs or initiatives does the company have in place?

We have an Employee Resource Group (ERG) called Belong. Belong is an open, inclusive and integrated environment where everyone belongs, ideas and perspectives are welcomed, differences are celebrated and no one group dominates the conversation. It is a place where everyone is empowered and innovation is fueled by our diverse perspectives.
 

How do you ensure that all employees feel welcome, including new hires and interns?

We pair each new hire with a D1A Buddy, who is someone of similar status within the agency and someone they may be working with. This helps our new hires become assimilated into our culture and provides them a resource and opportunity to begin networking. We also hold HR orientation where we go into depth about our DE&I goals, our past work and intro our ERG Belong and how to get involved. We strive to ensure that on their day one at Day One they feel welcomed right away.
 

Why do you think it’s important to foster a diverse and inclusive workplace environment?

We believe that we have a responsibility to ensure that our agency doesn’t just have one voice, because that is not reflective of the world we live in. We want to make sure that we have multiple perspectives in order to do our best work and be our best selves. Inclusivity is key to creating a strong and impactful culture, a culture where everyone feels like they are a part of something bigger, that they aren’t just at work but that they truly belong at Day One.
 

What are you looking for in UD students who want to intern or work at your company? How can they stand out when speaking with your recruiters at our career fairs?

We are looking for students who are interested in the PR, digital or social and creative industries. Students that have prior experience, whether that be an internship in the field, being a member of a school club that is relevant to PR or volunteering would be ideal. We are looking for students that have a curiosity for pop culture, that live and breathe on social media and want to make that their career.
 

Are you currently hiring interns or entry-level employees?

For those who have just graduated, we have apprentice (entry-level) positions open across all departments in the agency. This is a temporary eight-week position and at the end of the eight weeks, performances will be evaluated. If all goes well, a full-time offer with a title increase, salary increase and benefits will be accessible. Some examples of past apprentice positions include PR, creative strategy, editorial, digital strategy and influencer.