Building an inclusive recruitment playbook with Reliance Standard Life Insurance

Reliance Standard Life Insurance Company (RSLI) has helped millions of US families protect, prepare, and grow with peace of mind. Reliance Standard Life Insurance Company is a member of the Tokio Marine Group, which operates in the property and casualty insurance, reinsurance, and life insurance sectors globally.

The problem

Why RSLI needed a more strategic and inclusive hiring approach

Lack of structure in tracking goals and progress

The team struggled to consistently monitor recruiting metrics, making it harder to optimize performance and improve time management.

Difficulty sourcing qualified candidates

‍Finding applicants who fully met skill and experience requirements was a recurring challenge for the team.

Gaps in hiring process communication

‍There was a need for more consistent alignment across the team regarding candidate status and next steps.

Limited DEI integration in recruiting

‍Team members wanted to embed DEI more intentionally by diversifying talent pipelines, training hiring managers, and reducing bias in hiring tools.

DEI missing from employer brand

‍Candidates weren’t seeing enough about the company’s values, vision, and DEI commitments — limiting appeal to underrepresented groups.

Lack of diversity in leadership and outreach automation

‍The organization sought to increase leadership diversity and improve efficiency through more automated recruitment outreach.

The solution

A comprehensive recruiting playbook with detailed action steps

To support long-term hiring success, Perfeqta partnered with RSLI and its sister company, Matrix Absence Management, to develop a formal talent acquisition framework: The Recruiting Playbook.

This comprehensive guide standardized the recruitment process, reduced bias, and equipped hiring managers to prioritize alignment with company values over culture fit.

The playbook includes:

Clear recruitment goals and key performance metrics.
Timelines tailored by role type (high-volume, leadership, etc.).
Inclusive job description guidelines and interview question bank.
New hire request templates and interview scorecards with best practices.
Guidance on forming diverse hiring committees.
Enablement recommendations for the talent team.
Optimization strategies for Workday (ATS) integration.

The result

What changed in RSLI’s hiring process

1

Scalable, structured framework

Built a clear, repeatable hiring process—from job description audits to structured interviews and candidate feedback—to support long-term growth.

2

Values-based hiring strategy

Shifted focus from culture fit to culture add, helping teams reduce bias, attract diverse talent, and hire based on alignment with company values.

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3

Equity at the core

Redesigned the recruitment process to eliminate exclusionary practices and embed equity throughout—from outreach to final offer.

Testimonials

What our clients are saying

Results you can trust

Talent Acquisition

Diversity

Inclusion

Training

Growth

“We are able to implement elements of The Recruiting Playbook in stages, for example, we were able to incorporate questions from the inclusive interview question bank into our existing interview guides immediately, while we worked with the business to finalize the recommended recruitment process.”

Thea

Director of Diversity, Equity & Inclusion

Thea

Director of Diversity, Equity & Inclusion

“We are able to implement elements of The Recruiting Playbook in stages, for example, we were able to incorporate questions from the inclusive interview question bank into our existing interview guides immediately, while we worked with the business to finalize the recommended recruitment process.”

Talent Acquisition

Charlotte

Head of Values and Engagement

“Perfeqta has been a tremendous partner with Cadence by taking our strategy, goals and vision and assisting us with bringing our ERGs along in a journey filled with understanding, pulling groups of teammates together.”

ERG Advising

Courtney

CEO

“Our partnership with Perfeqta has been instrumental in evolving ZERO's approach to DEI. What we found most valuable was Perfeqta's ability to truly understand our team's unique needs and develop a tailored growth plan that aligned with our passion for creating an inclusive environment.”

DEIB Advising

Han

Director of HR at Thimble

“They did all the heavy lifting but made sure to add in checkpoints so that I was comfortable and looped in on the entire process. Most importantly, when it was time to roll out the framework to the greater team, they were personable and made the training feel more like a discussion amongst equals. Every deliverable presented by their team has been uniquely crafted for us.”

DEIB Advising

Jennifer

Talent Director

“It felt comfortable and safe for the team and I think we’ve made meaningful progress in creating a safe environment to have tough conversations. The energy and desire are high right now and we’ve decided to set aside some time during lunch on Tuesday to continue the conversation with our breakout groups.”

Company Training

Monique

Associate Director of HR Operations

“The team was so impressed with the sessions, your delivery, and the outcomes we took away. This training felt like the start of something I could barely dream of when these ERGs first formed. Looking back at those early days of PWN and Black@Phreesia, I am beyond proud of where we are today.”

ERG Training

Rod

ERG Lead

“Their team did an amazing job taking topics that can be uncomfortable and unfamiliar to many and positioning them in a practical and simple framework that empowers us to speak confidently and directly towards our career path and goals.”

ERG Training

Sarah

Former President

“Perfeqta was instrumental with designing the right-size program to fit our goals and team, and with creating a launch plan to bring it into reality. They also developed a thoughtful follow-up plan to ensure the program would meet our needs long-term, and that our team was well equipped to successfully support and develop incoming talent.”