Retail Puts Diversity & Inclusion Commitments into Practice

By [ Erin Hiatt ]
02/24/2021

Events over the last year have placed a spotlight on the lack of equity in our society and have sparked meaningful discussions around the role of corporations in addressing societal issues. As the nation’s largest private sector employer, the retail industry has embraced its role in advancing diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI), both within the retail workforce and within the communities the industry serves.

Retailers are engraining this work into core business values and inviting courageous conversations with their employees because we understand that equity demands constant dedication, awareness, and learning. Retail CEOs are listening and committing to the ongoing work it will take to support real change. And while retail DEI practitioners may be at the helm alongside their CEOs, they’re also helping their colleagues in roles spanning from Asset Protection to Marketing understand the role they each play in ensuring equity, because a DEI plan without organization-wide commitment cannot succeed.

RILA shares our members’ commitments to fostering a retail environment that works for all and is representative of the communities our industry serves. Our Diversity & Inclusion Initiative is shaped and driven by our Diversity & Inclusion Leaders Council, comprised of the top executives at leading retailers who oversee work related to diversity, inclusion, equity, and belonging within their organizations. Together with this group, we focus the Initiative’s work around four priority issues: quantifying the D&I business case, organization-wide participation, intentional succession planning for diverse talent, and societal impact.

In addition to providing forums for retailers to have open conversations around challenges, opportunities and lessons learned, we develop resources and tools to help retailers make progress, regardless of their starting point on their D&I journey.

Most recently, RILA joined several of our members in partnering with Open to All®, a national campaign to bring an end to discrimination. The campaign believes everyone should be welcome regardless of race, ethnicity, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, immigration status, religion or disability. Open to All partners commit to maintaining a welcoming and safe environment for people—including employees, visitors, customers, vendors and clients—and to not discriminate against any individuals or deny them goods or services based on any of these characteristics.

Dive deeper:

In future blogs we look forward to sharing more with you about the RILA D&I Initative’s priorities and community.

For more information about the retail industry’s commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion please contact RILA VP of CSR Erin Hiatt.