Report Highlights Efforts to Diversify Company,
Conduct Unconscious Bias Training and to Hire People with
Disabilities
Walgreens Boots Alliance (Nasdaq: WBA) today released the
company’s first global diversity and inclusion (D&I) report,
while also announcing recent efforts aimed at addressing healthcare
disparity in underserved communities.
The report under the theme “All Together. Different.” details
the company’s D&I journey over two years, 2018 and 2019, to
further embed diversity and inclusion practices across its global
operations. This report highlights several programs across the
company’s businesses, WBA’s global perspective on D&I and
progress on key initiatives.
“A diverse and inclusive organization is a top priority for our
business, and we are proud to embrace and support the many
cultures, backgrounds and experiences of our customers, patients
and employees across the globe,” said Stefano Pessina, executive
vice chairman and chief executive officer, WBA. “Diversity and
inclusion are core to our purpose of helping people live healthier,
happier lives.”
The report can be accessed here, and the WBA D&I highlights
video here.
WBA New Global D&I Report Highlights Multi-Year
Efforts:
WBA’s Leadership Accountability
Program
WBA has implemented a leadership accountability program, which
holds leaders responsible for undertaking diversity and inclusion
efforts focused on increasing representation of People of Color and
women within leadership levels. The program includes presenting
diverse interview slates for open leadership positions. Targets for
fiscal 2021, which started Sept. 1, are a 3 percent increase of
women in leadership across WBA, and a 2 percent increase of People
of Color in leadership in Retail Pharmacy USA (WBA’s U.S. division,
which includes Walgreens).
“We are on a journey to create a ‘One WBA’ mindset that delivers
to our employees a strong sense of belonging and full participation
in the organization’s success. We view diversity and inclusion as
an essential driver of that success; a talented, diverse, and
highly engaged workforce is what every purpose-driven organization
such as WBA seeks to acquire and retain,” said Kathleen
Wilson-Thompson, WBA executive vice president and global chief
human resources officer.
“WBA is committed to diversity and inclusion and has
demonstrated a thoughtful and strategic approach to truly ensure
that these values are at the center of everything we do,” said
Carlos Cubia, WBA vice president and global chief diversity
officer. “This commitment comes from the highest levels of our
organization.”
Recently the WBA board adopted amended corporate governance
guidelines to use when searching for new directors. They will
actively seek women and individuals from minority groups for
potential nominees.
Increasing Diversity across Pharmacy
Positions
For the past few years, in an effort to help diversify pharmacy
ranks, Walgreens has offered scholarships to diverse candidates at
accredited U.S. pharmacy schools. In fiscal 2019, which ended Aug.
31, 2019, the company provided over $1 million to assist over 250
students. The scholarship program has expanded to include job
placements at Walgreens pharmacies. Click here to read Semiu
Durowoju’s story, one of Walgreens many success stories, on
WBA.com.
Unconscious Bias Training across Global
Workforce
WBA has implemented a company-wide unconscious bias training
program for employees. Trainings have been facilitated at Boots UK,
Walgreens and other WBA international operations. A similar program
was rolled out nearly two years ago with Walgreens store employees.
By the end of fiscal 2019, over 57,000 employees had completed the
training. To read a story from two store managers who participated
in the training, click here.
Commitment to Hiring People with
Disabilities
In July, WBA was recognized for a fourth consecutive year with a
top-score of 100 percent on the 2020 Disability Equality Index®
(DEI), a joint initiative by Disability:IN and the American
Association of People with Disabilities (AAPD). The honor
recognizes Walgreens training and job readiness programs that
prepare potential hires for employment in Walgreens stores and
distribution centers. Click here to learn more.
Expanding Diverse Supplier
Network
WBA’s supplier diversity efforts are helping a growing number of
minority-owned and other diverse businesses serve its stores and
operations—and, in the process, grow their businesses and
workforce. Walgreens, for example, had bought from more than 2,600
diverse and small businesses, including 900 minority and
women-owned businesses in fiscal 2018, which ended August 2018. One
of the company’s long-standing suppliers is Rick Ross, candy
entrepreneur of Galerie au Chocolat. Learn about his partnership
with Walgreens here.
Addressing Healthcare Needs of Diverse Communities:
As a healthcare company, Walgreens has always focused on issues
where it can leverage its healthcare expertise and resources to
meet the needs of underserved populations. Healthcare disparity,
the lack of access to quality and affordable healthcare, has been a
priority for many years. Some recent efforts include:
- Walgreens partnership with VillageMD, making it the first
national pharmacy chain to offer full-service doctor offices
co-located at its stores. More than 50 percent of the 500-700
“Village Medical at Walgreens” locations will be in health
professional shortage areas and medically underserved
areas/populations, as designated by the U.S. Department of Health
and Human Services.
- Walgreens’s COVID-19 drive-thru testing sites have expanded
into underserved communities nationwide as part of the company’s
ongoing work to respond and care for our customers during this
unprecedented time.
Notes to Editors:
About Walgreens Boots Alliance
Walgreens Boots Alliance (Nasdaq: WBA) is a global leader in
retail and wholesale pharmacy, touching millions of lives every day
through dispensing and distributing medicines, its convenient
retail locations, digital platforms and health and beauty products.
The company has more than 100 years of trusted health care heritage
and innovation in community pharmacy and pharmaceutical
wholesaling. Including equity method investments, WBA has a
presence in more than 25 countries, employs more than 440,000
people and has more than 18,750 stores.
WBA’s purpose is to help people across the world lead healthier
and happier lives. The company is proud of its contributions to
healthy communities, a healthy planet, an inclusive workplace and a
sustainable marketplace. WBA is a participant of the United Nations
Global Compact and adheres to its principles-based approach to
responsible business. The company’s businesses have been recognized
for their Corporate Social Responsibility. Walgreens was named to
FORTUNE* magazine’s 2019 Companies that Change the World list and
Boots UK was recognized as Responsible Business of the Year
2019-2020 by Business in the Community. WBA is included in
FORTUNE’s 2020 list of the World’s Most Admired Companies. This is
the 27th consecutive year that WBA or its predecessor company,
Walgreen Co., has been named to the list. More company information
is available at www.walgreensbootsalliance.com.
*© 2019, Fortune Media IP Limited. Used under license.
(WBA-GEN)
Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements: All
statements in this release and related Walgreens Boots Alliance
Diversity & Inclusion Report 2018/2019 that are not historical,
including program goals, the expected execution and effect of our
Corporate Social Responsibility and D&I strategies and
initiatives and the amounts and timing of their expected impact,
are forward-looking statements made pursuant to the safe harbor
provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995.
These forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future
performance and involve risks, assumptions and uncertainties, known
or unknown, including those described in Item 1A (Risk Factors) of
Walgreens Boots Alliance’s Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended
August 31, 2019, its form 10-Q for the fiscal quarter ended May 31,
2020 and in other documents that Walgreens Boots Alliance files or
furnishes with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Should one
or more of these risks or uncertainties materialize, or should
underlying assumptions prove incorrect, actual results may vary
materially. These forward-looking statements speak only as of the
date they are made. Walgreens Boots Alliance does not undertake,
and expressly disclaims, any duty or obligation to update publicly
any forward-looking statement after the date of this release,
whether as a result of new information, future events, changes in
assumptions or otherwise.
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Media Relations Pamela Morris
pamela.morris@walgreens.com
+1 (847) 315-2935 (within the U.S.)
+44 (0) 20 7980 8585 (outside the U.S.)
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