At Williams, we believe building a culture of authenticity is key to success. True authenticity leads to a collective mindset that appreciates differences and allows for inclusion, acceptance and ultimately belonging. This culture of belonging – created through education, workplace practices and allyship – enables each unique individual to achieve their full potential and contribute to achieving our business goals.
One way we measure inclusiveness for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Queer (LGBTQ) employees is through annual participation in the Human Rights Campaign Corporate Equality Index.
“Benchmarking and understanding evolving employee needs is critical to recognizing gaps and implementing solutions that help us recruit and retain the very best talent,” says Debbie Cowan, SVP & Chief Human Resources Officer, and member of Williams’ Diversity & Inclusion Council. “I’m proud of the support we provide to our LGBTQ employees and their families and of our continued focus on providing an authentic culture where all employees have a sense of belonging.”
We continuously improve our inclusive culture by:
- Standing by our Human Rights Policy and Statement, which outlines our commitment to respect for human rights within our operations and supply chain
- Operating a Diversity and Inclusion Council charged with identifying opportunities and implementing initiatives throughout our organization
- Maintaining an internal metrics dashboard and participate in external benchmarking opportunities to help identify gaps, track progress and prioritize improvements in hiring and retention
- Providing extensive tools and resources for employees and leaders, including Unconscious Bias training and ongoing forums where a wide range of topics are discussed, and allyships are encouraged
- Pledging our support for the CEO Act!on for Diversity and Inclusion Coalition
The Human Rights Campaign Foundation publishes the Corporate Equality Index as a national benchmarking report on corporate policies and practices pertaining to LGBTQ employees. Williams’ Corporate Equality Index rating improved to 95 out of 100 in 2021. For more details, you may review the full report.
View this video for more from Debbie Cowan, SVP & Human Resources Officer, Williams:
