Temptation Bakeries takes cultural inclusiveness to the next level.
Lunch time in the tearoom at Temptation Bakeries’ Springvale factory is a sight to behold.
With around 15 different nationalities employed in the factory, staff often have a smorgasbord of delicious traditional cuisines between them. There are mouth-watering Afghani mantu (savoury dumplings), lavash thin breads with yummy dips, Cambodian coconut curries, and aromatic homemade pho soups.
It's just one of the perks that comes with working in such a culturally diverse workplace.
“It’s pretty inclusive,” says site manager Russell Bald.
Since opening in 1993, Temptation Bakeries has expanded from being a small family-owned bakery based on the Mornington Peninsula to an award-winning national supplier of baked goods. At its Springvale site, a team of 75 to 80 staff make around eight tonnes of garlic bread a day and about 15,000 pies.
Hiring and retaining staff has been difficult in the past, largely due to the nature of the work. In order to overcome some of the staffing issues, Russell adopted an approach to hiring that’s very much about screening people in, rather than screening out.
If someone’s a good worker, he generally asks whether they have family or friends like them who want a job. Speaking English is not a prerequisite for employment.
“Some of our best workers don’t speak any English, so it’s not seen as a negative at all,” says Russell.
“We have quite a few who interpret on the floor too. It’s about finding the right people who we can work with and mould to what we need production-wise.”
Around 70% of the factory staff are female and Russell says in recent years, they have hired several single mothers. In order to accommodate them, they’ve changed the times they run the production lines so working mothers can do school drop off or pick up.
By creating an inclusive workplace culture, Russell says his staff feel valued and supported and are more productive as a result. Russell recommends other employers consider introducing cultural inclusiveness and flexibility where appropriate.
“If you’re not, you’re going to lose out,” he says.
“It’s hard enough to get people into the factory working, but if you don’t work with them, you’re going to lag behind, truly.”