Henkel, the company behind well-known brands such as Loctite®, Dial®, Right Guard®, Schwarzkopf® hair care and Persil® laundry detergent announced today that it has been recognized by Forbes as one of America’s Best Employers for Diversity 2021.
The Best Employers for Diversity were chosen based on an independent survey of over 50,000 employees working for companies employing at least 1,000 people in their U.S. operations. Respondents were asked questions regarding the topics of age, gender equality, ethnicity, disability, LGBTQA+ and general diversity concerning their own employer, and given the chance to evaluate other employers in their respective industries.
“We are honored to be ranked as one of America's Best Employers for Diversity in 2021 and we appreciate this recognition, especially as it reflects the sentiment of our employees and others across the American workforce,” said Steven Essick, President Henkel North America. “The award fuels our motivation and commitment on our journey to further strengthen and accelerate our efforts to increase diverse representation, foster a culture of inclusion and belonging, and enhance the positive employee experience that we strive for at Henkel.”
Henkel’s long-standing commitment to fostering an inclusive and diverse workforce is reflected in its values and practices, and in its focus on continued improvement by enhancing policies in the workplace and supporting organizations that help address longstanding inequalities and social injustices.
“Creating a workplace that inspires, encourages, and supports diverse voices and contributions is critical for continued business growth, creativity, and innovation,” added Essick. “In 2020, we created the Henkel NA Diversity & Inclusion Council with representatives from across the organization. Their role is increasingly beneficial in creating two-way dialogue with leadership and across the organization, as well as in influencing our diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) strategy. We are also increasing the number and scope of Henkel’s Employee Resource Groups, to expand our grassroots workplace inclusion efforts.”
Earlier this year, Henkel launched new scholarships and internships to increase DEI across Henkel businesses. These programs will help build leadership, education, and career opportunities that support future growth in underrepresented communities and diverse representation of Henkel employees, as well as the company’s early talent pipeline for diverse talent.