Create a Culture of Belonging and Inclusivity
Challenge
The right culture is critical to attracting, developing, and retaining top talent that includes the diversity we seek. In Q3 2020, we performed a DEI assessment that identified opportunities to raise belonginess, ensuring that we are creating a safe space for employees to have their authentic self-cherished and celebrated, which will ultimately lead to a stronger culture. We also wanted to ensure that our culture – the foundation of who we are – is protected as we continue to grow.
Actions
- Documented culture roots and behaviors that support core values
- Incorporated DEI perspective and training into the onboarding process
- Implemented annual stay interviews
- Revamped welcome lunches for new hires, having them share their stories and their diverse backgrounds
- Developed social and community plan that is inclusive of all interests
- Update website with our perspectives on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
- Revised official company holiday calendar to include additional holidays such as MLK and Juneteenth
Outcomes
- Increased sense of belonginess, as reported in qualitative and quantitative survey responses
- Increased retention; 90% in the first two years of employment
- Increased engagement in social and community initiatives, with >85% engagement from the Leadership Team at every event
Contact
Lauren Malik
Quote
DEI is critical to us; it is a big part of our company purpose - to not only bring diverse perspectives together to better solve problems but also inspire other companies to do the same. We know this is a journey, we know we need to keep learning and growing, and we know we need to be purposeful and intentional to keep improving. We joined this CEO pledge as one part of our efforts to keep learning and growing along with our fellow business leaders. By sharing our challenges and ideas with other organizations, we can all be better together.