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Today is an opportunity to live our values by speaking up and speaking out against injustice. We're committed to driving and achieving real change – creating a tomorrow we can all be proud of, standing together as one.
Jacobs has launched a global Action Plan for Advancing Justice and Equality, which builds on Jacobs’ existing global inclusion and diversity strategy, TogetherBeyond℠, and sets actionable initiatives and measurable objectives in the company’s continuing efforts to address embedded and systemic racial inequities and social issues.
Employees initiated the development of the action plan with a team who collaborated alongside Jacobs’ Board of Directors and Executive Leadership Team to outline three key sets of commitments and specific, measurable actions with performance outcomes:
- Amplify culture of belonging
- Recruit, retain and advance Black employees based on merit
- Contribute to structural change in the broader society
“We don’t always have to agree, but we should always approach others with compassion, professionalism and a desire to understand...fostering a work environment that is welcoming and inclusive, in all respects.”
“Here in the United States we have fought hard to ensure that our right to vote transcends gender, race, religion, and yes, even politics. Let’s use our voices as corporate leaders to speak up and speak out.”
“Let’s continue to build momentum, speak up for the rights of our LGBTI+ employees and work to be the best allies we can to all those who face discrimination, injustice and hatred.”
“We cannot afford to be neutral. We must commit to becoming anti-racists, active allies, and supporters of colleagues of all colors, identities and backgrounds.”
“It was clear from our discussions with the Daughters of Rosie that they share our vision of inclusion and diversity.”
Dallas Regional Chamber Q&A Series: Steve Demetriou
Expounding on our commitment to actionable initiatives and measurable objectives to address embedded and systemic racial inequalities, Chair and CEO Steve Demetriou participated in the Dallas Regional Chamber’s Q&A series to answer questions about Jacobs’ global Action Plan for Advancing Justice and Equality.
“We have seen the benefits of a significant increase in gender diversity over the last several years and believe this next phase of our journey — delivering on the Justice and Equality action plan — is critical to our company’s success.”
“To help senior and frontline leaders initiate difficult conversations on race and discrimination with empathy, Jacobs developed a coaching tool that provides materials to guide teams in honestly addressing the topics.”
Member Perspective: Sharon A. Jean-Baptiste, P.E. – The Chamber of Commerce for Greater Philadelphia
In an article for the Greater Philadelphia Chamber of Commerce, Sharon Jean-Baptiste outlines the steps businesses can take to speak out against injustice and commit to driving change for communities of color.
“As a company we are going to focus on doing our part to get this right, and then we will look more broadly at other things affecting our people and our communities.”
“Pride month is a time to remind ourselves we can’t be complacent; that we must breathe together or not at all – to celebrate who we are and what we stand for; to remember the names of just a fraction of those we lost to hatred and inexcusable violence...”
“As we have all been seeing and discussing these past few weeks, there is so much more that still needs to be done to ensure basic and fundamental civil and human rights for all.”
“This is our time to affect change. Turn rhetoric into action. Build a new platform as a nation. Create an equal and inclusive future for all.”
“Standing up for what is right is in our Jacobs culture. It’s who we are.”
“At Jacobs, we are one global community. Since I started this role, I’ve said, “we are in this together.” And though this phrase has meant different things at different times, I truly mean it – we are in it together.”
“Now more than ever before we must stand united against these inequalities and lay greater emphasis on calling out and eradicating all forms of discrimination where we see it.”