Nestlé Health Science Recognized as a "2024 Best Place to Work for People with Disabilities"
Nestlé Health Science is proud to be recognized as one of the “2024 Best Places to Work for People with Disabilities” by the American Association of People with Disabilities (AAPD), the nation’s largest disability rights organization, and Disability:IN, the global business disability inclusion network.
The ranking is sourced from the Disability Equality Index, the world’s most comprehensive benchmarking tool to measure disability workplace inclusion against competitors. Nestlé Health Science achieved a top-score of 100, highlighting its dedication to advancing disability inclusion throughout the organization.
"On the 10th anniversary of the Disability Equality Index, we’re extremely proud of the 542 national and international companies that are taking a proactive role in leading progress towards disability inclusion, setting a benchmark for others to follow. Their dedication to fostering inclusive workplaces not only attracts top talent but also drives innovation and creates sustainable performance in today's global market. Together, we are creating a future where everyone can contribute and thrive,” said Jill Houghton, President and CEO of Disability:IN.
Fostering Inclusivity and Belonging – New Disability & Mental Health Employee Resource Group
Disability is a natural part of the human experience, and it crosses lines of age, ethnicity, gender, gender identity, race, sexual orientation, socioeconomic status and other demographics. Earlier this year, Nestle Health Science proudly launched a new Employee Resource Group (ERG): Soar - focused on bringing awareness to and support for mental health and disabilities. The ERG, named to emphasize soaring above challenges by coming together and creating a hopeful outlook for the future, aims to create an inclusive workplace that values and empowers individuals with disabilities and mental health conditions.
“We’re honored to once again be named a Best Place to Work for People with Disabilities and are proud of our top-score. The journey towards inclusion and belonging continues, and we’re as dedicated as ever to creating an environment where all employees can truly thrive,” said Laurel Catlett-King, Vice President & Head of Human Resources at Nestlé Health Science. “The launch of Soar, our new ERG which I am immensely proud to executive sponsor, will help continue our work in fostering inclusivity and support for mental health and disabilities.”
Nestlé Health Science is proud to be an ongoing collaborator with Disability:IN, joining over 400+ other corporations dedicated to advancing disability inclusion in the workplace.
About the Disability Equality Index®
The Disability Equality Index has become the leading independent, third-party resource for the annual benchmarking of corporate disability inclusion policies and programs, and is now trusted by more than 70% of the United States Fortune 100 and nearly half of the Fortune 500. Such companies must increasingly consider how emerging global reporting directives and stakeholder expectations surrounding social and corporate governance factors impact their operational, cultural, reputational and financial performance.
The Disability Equality Index is an objective, reflective, forward-thinking, and confidential disability rating tool designed to assist business in advancing inclusion practices. It is a comprehensive benchmark that helps companies build a roadmap of measurable, tangible actions across five scored categories: Culture & Leadership, Enterprise-Wide Access, Employment Practices, Community Engagement, and Supplier Diversity. Participating companies receive a score, on a scale of zero (0) to 100, with those scoring 80 or higher earning the distinction of “Best Places to Work for Disability Inclusion” for the benchmark year.
Findings from a two-year Global Disability Equality Index pilot informed the launch of a scored benchmark that opened in 2024 to seven new countries in addition to the United States. These include: Brazil, Canada, Germany, India, Japan, the Philippines, and the United Kingdom. Now in its 10th year, the Disability Equality Index has grown nearly 7x since 2015, expanding from 80 companies in its first year to 542 in 2024. Collectively, the 2024 edition received 753 submissions spanning the eight benchmarked countries.