An Update on JohnSlots’ Diversity and Inclusion Efforts

At JohnSlots our policy for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) is a key part of our mission to create an organisation that celebrates our differences and unique qualities. We’ve worked hard to build a company that values diversity and we’re always eager to promote fairness and inclusion for all. We strive to continue on ways we can improve further by monitoring these important guidelines regularly. Our Head of Content – Archie Williamson, has been a huge part of this journey as he supports these DEI policies alongside us, and often finds ways to incorporate them in our articles, blogs and within his team in general.

Alex: How has JohnSlots’ approach to Diversity and Inclusion evolved over the years?

Archie: Our approach to diversity and inclusion has come a long way – as initially we just focused on providing a welcoming environment for all team members, but as we grew as a company, there was the realisation that more needed to be done. So, we decided to publish a formal DEI policy to show all of our employees that they matter and that whatever their backgrounds or individual circumstances may be, they’re truly valued in our organisation.

Alex: Can you tell us about JohnSlots’ DEI mission and how it aligns with Gentoo Media’s broader goals?

Archie: Absolutely! So our mission is to create a workplace where everyone feels that they belong and are respected by all. During the recruitment process, we like to hire a diverse range of people, as different perspectives and backgrounds can be so valuable to any organisation. And this aligns with our parent company – Gentoo Media’s broader goals of encouraging inclusivity and innovation.

Alex: Why do you think a strong DEI culture is essential for JohnSlots and the gaming industry?

Archie: In my view – a strong DEI culture is vital, as having a range of perspectives from all walks of life can really drive creativity and innovation in a positive way. A broader range of ideas from a content perspective in particular is especially important, as we want our topics to resonate with everyone. We want everyone’s voices to be heard. So by prioritising DEI, we’re not only improving our workplace culture, but we’re also producing a range of engaging and interesting content for the iGaming industry.

Alex: What specific actions has JohnSlots taken to support DEI in recruitment and employment practices?

Archie: JohnSlots uses a method of race-neutral and blind recruitment policies. We’re only interested in a candidate based on their skills, experience and unique abilities. We’re also committed to providing fair and equal pay for all staff – gender or background is not important to us, as we want to recognise and reward team members based on their merit and job roles.

Alex: How does JohnSlots address the ongoing challenge of the gender pay gap?

Archie: Unfortunately, the gender pay gap does show up at times, this can be due to the fact that more women will work part time hours than men. Another interesting fact is that the gender pay gap for full time employees is 14.2% for those over 60 years old, 10.3% for those over 40, and 4.7% for those under 40. We often monitor pay at Johnslots to make sure that there are no discrepancies, and if there are any, we address them immediately. Closing the gender pay gap is a crucial part of our DEI initiative, and as previously mentioned, our blind hiring process is a great step in the right direction to try and resolve this problem.

Alex: What are some of the key DEI challenges and opportunities facing JohnSlots today?

Archie: I’d say that tackling implicit bias can be a tricky one – but it’s our job as a company to provide ongoing education and training to eliminate this. However, it’s also a great opportunity to broaden everyone’s perspectives, which encourages growth and that will only strengthen our team.

Alex: How are user feedback and community involvement incorporated into DEI efforts at JohnSlots?

Archie: User feedback is a wonderful tool to get an insight into how we’re doing as an organisation. By taking on feedback from the wider community we’ve been able to provide a much better service for our users. Because of this we’ve been able to incorporate various features to make sure that everyone is represented – like making our website more accessible and to publish written content that can speak to a range of audiences and that’s something we’re very proud of.

Alex: Looking forward, what are JohnSlots’ DEI goals and plans for the future?

Archie: In the future the plan is to continue with our DEI strategy and we are always looking to improve in whatever way we can. For example, we want to make sure that our platform remains a place that people with various physical or neurodiverse needs can feel comfortable using. And we will continue to listen to feedback and evolve with these ever changing needs.