Panasonic’s supplier diversity strategy

The aim of the programme is to add value to the organisation and find procurement partners who can meet specifications to apply for participation in their Supplier Diversity Program. The strategy welcomes the opportunity to work with high quality small and diverse service providers.

Diverse suppliers and procurement partners

Panasonic created and implemented the supplier diversity policy to ensure that their procurement processes promote inclusion of qualified and certified businesses owned by people of diverse backgrounds and/or underrepresented populations that include minority-owned, women-owned, veteran-owned, LGBTQ-owned and disabled-owned businesses.

"For well over two decades, businesses have played an important role in furthering LGBTQ+ equality by centering employee needs and voices when it comes to workplace inclusion. While there is much more work to be done, year-over-year growth in CEI participation is evidence of a business community that recognizes the responsibility and value in upholding equity and inclusion," said RaShawn "Shawnie" Hawkins, Human Rights Campaign Sr Director of Workplace Equality. "Our goal at the Human Rights Campaign Foundation is to work in a spirit of partnership with companies, providing educational resources and leading benchmarking, and collaborating on ways for businesses to support the LGBTQ+ community at a time when we face unprecedented legislative attacks, heightened anti-LGBTQ+ rhetoric and physical violence. The CEI is an ever-evolving tool – a blueprint that companies can use to show up more effectively in supporting their LGBTQ+ employees and their families."

It comes as Panasonic Corporation of North America announced it has received a 100% ranking from the Human Rights Campaign Foundation's 2023-2024 Corporate Equality Index (CEI), earning it the designation as a leading company for LGBTQ+ employees in the United States. Panasonic's achievement is a culmination of more than a year-long, employee-led effort to carefully examine, reflect, and act on improving policies, introducing processes, and expanding existing program offerings for LGBTQ+ employees. 

Workplace inclusion

In 2023, Panasonic joined the ranks of more than 545 companies and businesses in the U.S. to earn the Equality 100 Award: Leader in LGBTQ+ Workplace Inclusion by scoring a 100 on the CEI, the nation's foremost benchmarking survey and report measuring corporate policies and practices related to LGBTQ+ workplace equality. The award recognizes Panasonic's commitment to developing and implementing programs, tools and processes that ensure a diverse and equitable environment for its employees, in turn benefiting the company's partners, customers and communities it serves in.

"At Panasonic, we remain both committed and accountable when it comes to ensuring a physically and psychologically safe workplace where every person can thrive," said Megan Myungwon Lee, Chairwoman and Chief Executive Officer of Panasonic Corporation of North America. "We cultivate an environment where everyone is able to share their voice and talents, and have the opportunity and resources to fully realise their potential. We are deeply honoured to be recognized by the Human Rights Campaign's Corporate Equality Index for our efforts to elevate equity for the LGBTQ+ community and foster an inclusive company culture."

The CEI rates companies on detailed criteria falling under four central pillars, including: non-discrimination policies across business entities; equitable benefits for LGBTQIA+ workers and their families; supporting an inclusive culture; and corporate social responsibility.

PRISM Business Impact Group

Panasonic's PRISM Business Impact Group, which advocates for an inclusive and safe workplace culture where individuals can thrive in both their professional and personal lives, was the driving force to elevate equity for LGBTQ+ employees. Over the last year, Panasonic expanded its voluntary Self-ID program to include gender identity and sexual orientation, developed and published a guide to equitable benefits for LGBTQ+ employees, expanded its healthcare coverage for transgender employees and domestic partners, and continued its support for the broader LGBTQ+ community through the work of PRISM and Pride Month initiatives.

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Other magazines that may be of interest - Supply Chain Magazine | Sustainability Magazine

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