Embracing Inclusivity in the Workplace and Beyond
Pride Month: A time to celebrate and reflect
This June, in celebration of Pride Month, we are reaffirming our commitment to inclusivity and diversity through employee engagement events and charitable contributions in support of the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Queer + (LGBTQ+) community.
Along with all LGBTQ+ communities within Nestlé Health Science and around the world, we celebrate the positive impact that diversity and inclusion can have in the workplace and in everyday life.
“Pride Month is not only a time for celebration. It’s also a crucial reminder of the importance of building inclusive spaces, within our workplaces, communities and society at large, where everyone feels heard, respected and valued,” said Laurel Catlett-King, Vice President and Head of Human Resources, Nestlé Health Science U.S. “Our company thrives when our people do, and that means empowering every team member to feel proud to bring their whole self to work.”
Encouraging Allyship and Awareness
To further commemorate Pride Month, our LGBTQ+ employee resource group, Pride +, is spearheading various events and initiatives to engage employees while bolstering awareness and support for the LGBTQ+ community. This includes a virtual event presented by The Trevor Project, the leading suicide prevention organization for LGBTQ young people, for all Nestlé U.S. employees focused on the importance of allyship in the workplace.
We are also hosting Pride-themed employee networking and volunteerism opportunities throughout the month to encourage open dialogue, empathy and understanding among colleagues while giving back to LGBTQ+ community organizations.
Championing the LGBTQ+ Community Through Charitable Partnership
Pride Month is also an opportunity for us to give back to the LGBTQ+ community through charitable donations and product contributions. Through the Nestlé Health Science Foundation, a 501c3 and the charitable arm of our business, we are proud to partner with influential advocacy groups such as the The Trevor Project and LGBT Network – each dedicated to empowering and enriching the lives of all LGBTQ+ communities.
"Support from the Nestlé Health Science Foundation helps the LGBT Network advance LGBT diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging efforts in workplaces, deliver anti-bullying programs in schools, and overall help create safer spaces for the LGBT community," shared Robert Vitelli, Chief Executive Officer, LGBT Network.
Continuing Our Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Journey
Nestlé Health Science’s commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion (DE&I) transcends Pride Month. We have implemented various initiatives to ensure equal opportunities for all employees, including partnering with our global community to encourage courageous conversations, share best practices and build a culture of belonging for all.
Our commitment to DE&I includes offering progressive workplace policies, such as equal parental leave for biological and adoptive parents, and financial support for gender transition medical costs. Our Employee Resources Groups are helping the company to drive and maintain an inclusive culture and serve as a critical resource as we advance new initiatives.
Looking toward the future, we continue to build a talent pipeline of next generation leaders from all communities; by diversifying where applicants are sourced and ensuring job descriptions use inclusive language.
Reflecting our ongoing efforts, we achieved a score of 100 on the Human Rights Campaign Foundation’s 2022 Corporate Equality Index (CEI), the nation’s foremost benchmarking survey and report measuring corporate policies and practices related to LGBTQ+ workplace equality and inclusion. Read more here.