Gender equity, non-discrimination and non-harassment

A culture free of discrimination, violence or harassment is right for society, and for Nestlé.

We are clear that our own workplaces and those of our suppliers must not tolerate any form of these abuses. As part of a just transition to a fairer and more ethical food system, we are committed to ensuring diversity and inclusion are integral components of our business. We want everyone to bring their whole selves to work – and to speak up if they feel their rights are not being protected.

We have made progress in four key areas: Gender balance, people with disabilities, the LGBTQ+ community and race and ethnicity. This year we were recognized for our transparency in gender reporting and supporting women's empowerment. As a global business with hundreds of thousands of employees in many different countries, and a complex system of external suppliers, there is more to do to ensure everyone is healthy, safe, accepted, valued and supported. This issue remains one of Nestlé's ten priority human resources areas.

Changing the face of our workforce

Nestlé champions the rights of our own employees and those within our suppliers' workplaces too. We collaborate with leading organizations to advocate for civil rights and protections.

Our Gender Balance Acceleration Plan

Through our Gender Balance Acceleration Plan we are committed to increasing the percentage of women in managerial positions. We are proud that 45% of managerial positions today are held by women, but committed to go further. We will increase the proportion of women in our top 200+ senior executive positions to 30% by 2022. We aim to achieve this through careful succession planning where we have the right pipeline for our most critical business roles in place, together with career support and guidance through our Corporate Mentoring Program. Our recently introduced Global Parental Support Policy acknowledges that parental roles are not solely defined by gender. The Bloomberg Equality Index continues to recognize Nestlé for advancing gender balance in the workplace and commended us for our transparency in addressing the issue.

Empowering people with disabilities

We signed the International Labor Organization's Global Business and Disability Network Charter to ensure the inclusion of people with disabilities in our workplace. Since 2020, Nestlé has been a partner in the The Valuable 500 and as such is committed to: 

• Providing equal opportunities for people with disabilities
• Promoting awareness and understanding in order to mitigate unconscious bias
• Leveraging our Nestlé Needs YOUth Initiative to positively impact the lives of young people living with disabilities, helping them develop the skills they need to thrive 
   

Committed to LGBTQ+ equality

As a member of the Partnership with Global LGBTI Equality, we are helping accelerate equality and inclusion for Lesbian, Gay, Bi, Trans and Intersex people in the workplace. We empower our workers to be their authentic selves at work. We support the UN's LGBTI Standards of Conduct, as part of The Partnership for Global LGBTI Equality (PGLE). We have also partnered with LGBTQ+ civil society groups in countries including France, Italy, Colombia, Mexico and Panama. We are proud that LGBTQ+ networks have sprung up in multiple markets where we operate. In Nestlé UK and Ireland, the network counts more than 220 LGBTQ+ employees and allies and has been nominated among the top networks by the British LGBT+ Awards.

Helping end racial discrimination

Nestlé has proudly affirmed that Black Lives Matter - inside our own workplaces and beyond. We have taken steps to help make our workplaces better for people from all communities and backgrounds. On the back of employee listening forums and employee-led discussions, Nestlé USA created a plan to enhance diversity and inclusion, and has donated to the National Urban League civil rights organization. Juneteenth (June 19) - the federal holiday commemorating the emancipation of African-American slaves - has also been designated as a Nestlé USA company holiday. We have also recently signed the Race at Work Charter. We are also a founding member of the World Economic Forum's Partnering for Racial Justice in Business initiative, to help root out institutional racism in business and society.