Today, LS&Co. is proud to recognize Women’s Equality Day, which is celebrated in the United States every year on August 26 to commemorate the 1920 adoption of the Nineteenth Amendment (Amendment XIX) to the United States Constitution; prohibiting states and the federal government from denying the right to vote to citizens on the basis of sex.
On this day and every day forward, we reaffirm our commitment to continue advancing equality through our hiring and retention policies and practices – standing by our promise to expand our leadership and development opportunities for women in and outside of our company, while supporting and shaping initiatives around voter rights and engagement for women.
Equality in our workplace is one of the most important business issues of our time. In 2020, we commemorated the 100th anniversary of the Nineteenth Amendment through our “vote” programming with our employees and customers. While progress has been made, we recognize that women, especially women of color, immigrant women, queer women, disabled women, and trans women still face barriers to true equality.
At LS&Co., we continue to develop internal programs, policies and practices, while advocating for legislative policies that promote true equality for women.
In fact, most recently, LS&Co.:
- Launched a new talent development program for our senior women (LS&Co. Lab), which was curated specifically to further develop our high-performing senior women leaders, with the aim to increase their representation and retention while helping to tailor and advance their careers.
- Joined the “Don’t Ban Equality” business coalition in support of comprehensive reproductive care.
- Continued to advocate for national paid family leave.
- Joined other businesses in a statement against LGBTQIA+ discrimination, specially of trans and queer women.
Our commitment continues
LS&Co. has a track record of standing up for gender equity in our workplace. We’ve established industry-leading paid medical and parental leave policies and long advocated for a similar national (U.S.) law. We continue to advocate for pregnant worker protections and remain committed to covering contraception in our own plans despite shifting legislation. Through the Levi Strauss Foundation (LSF), we support access to reproductive health services for people in marginalized communities internationally and domestically. Our LSF grants go to organizations like the International Planned Parenthood Federation, Marie Stopes International and Groundswell Fund.
Rivet, our women’s Employee Resource Group (ERG), creates community, connection and safe spaces for our women on all levels and is also a way for us to amplify their voice and ideas. Our annual summit Seen & Heard, helps us evaluate issues of importance to women and their allies. In these ways and others, we’re fully committed to making LS&Co. a place where women — and all employees — can be their best and authentic selves and experience fulfilling careers.
We’ll continue to spotlight progress and actions we’re taking in line with our commitment to increasing the representation and retention of women in our organization — including ongoing advocacy efforts to empower and amplify their voices.
