BD (NYSE:BDX) earlier this week outlined its efforts this year related to global inclusion, diversity and equity.
Franklin Lakes, New Jersey-based BD released its 2021 Global Inclusion, Diversity and Equity (ID&E) Report, highlighting the progress it’s made in human health as part of its environmental, social and governance (ESG) strategy, according to a news release.
In the report, BD explained its “2030+” goals, which aim to maintain a healthy and thriving workforce that cultivates a culture of inclusion, safety and well-being while contributing to community and company health.
Among the 2030+ goals is the aim to improve ethnic and gender diversity by 1% year-over-year at the management and executive levels, as well as ensuring equal pay by gender worldwide. At the end of fiscal 2021, women held 39.9% of management roles and 29.9% of executive positions at BD, which it said were improvements from the previous year and come in ahead of industry benchmarks.
BD said 30.2% of its workforce is ethnically diverse at the management level and 21.2% diverse at the executive level as well.
“While we’ve seen increases in ethnic and gender diversity, we are hard at work to continue adding to this progress,” said Nicole Thompson, BD’s VP of HR — Inculsion, Diversity, Equity & Engagement.
“We are well-positioned to meet and exceed increasing expectations from our employees, customers, shareholders and the communities we serve by accelerating ID&E programs that will help us advance the world of health for all,” Thompson said in a news release.
BD said it regularly participates in external benchmarking surveys to track progress and provide additional visibility to stakeholders. The company received recognition on multiple levels in 2021, having been named a top company for diversity in the U.S. by DiversityInc and also received a 100% score on the Human Rights Campaign’s Corporate Equality Index.
The company was named one of the best places to work for LGBT Equality and registered a 90% score on DisabilityIN’s Disability Equality Index and was named as a best place to work for Disability Inclusion.
“The pillars of our ESG strategy are interconnected, and our ID&E programs are essential in helping us make a meaningful impact in the areas of company, planet, community and human health,” BD CEO Tom Polen said. “We have been on a journey to build a more inclusive workplace where the members of our global team can be themselves, feel comfortable speaking up, grow and develop in their careers, and share their best and most innovative thinking.
“When more people and perspectives have a seat at the table, we produce better, more innovative solutions for the health care industry.”
