Dive Brief:

• Sporting goods retailer REI tops the list of 300 companies that received the most recommendations from female employees in the U.S. and made progress in advancing women and diversity of boards and executive ranks, according to Forbes. The publication’s third annual list of Best Employers for Women, released July 28 in partnership with market research firm Statista, is based on a survey of 75,000 U.S. employees, including 45,000 women. 
• During March and April, respondents from 31 industries at companies with more than 1,000 employees were asked about factors including workplace culture, opportunities for development and diversity. Statista also asked female respondents to rate their companies the topics of discrimination, pay equity and parental leave, according to Forbes. Survey participants were also asked to nominate companies outside of their own industries.  
• REI earned a score of 87.6, moving up 20 spots from its 2019 ranking. Unilever, a multinational consumer goods company, took the No. 2 spot, earning a score of 87.03, Forbes reported.

Dive Insight:

Many companies say they support gender equality, but do not have a tangible plan to work toward it, according to research.

Mercer's "When Women Thrive 2020 Global Report" released March 3, found the majority (81%) of companies surveyed worldwide said that diversity and inclusion (D&I) is important. But only 42% have created a plan for reaching gender equality, according to the report. Senior HR and business leaders at companies around the world were asked questions on issues including gender and pay equity, accountability and leadership engagement. 

The rates for hiring, promoting and retaining women are now comparable to rates for men, which is an improvement, according to Mercer. Women comprise 47% of support staff and 42% of professional level positions; and less than a third of senior level (29%) and executive level (23%) positions. About half of the organizations surveyed do not have staff solely focused on D&I; 64% track gender representation, and "even fewer" analyze hires, promotions and exits by gender, according to the report.

In regard to gender equity, as of March, women represent 50% of Unilever’s management-level employees, globally, "up from 38% in 2010; and a non-executive board of 45% women," the company said in a statement. "Supply chain has delivered the biggest step change, having achieved a 40% female representation in management," the company said. Also in March, Unilever pledged $540 million to support small-to-medium sized businesses across its extended value chain to help them survive amid the pandemic, according to Marketing Dive, HR Dive’s sister publication. 

REI is one of the many retailers that temporarily closed stores amid states' shelter-in-place orders to decrease the spread of the novel coronavirus. In early July, REI laid off 400 retail employees, which is about 5% of its retail staff, according to Retail Dive, HR Dive’s sister publication. In April, 300 headquarters employees were laid off, and a furlough of 90% of its retail employees took place April 15 and ended July 15, according to the Kent Reporter. Employees at the company called for enhanced safety measures. In June, REI began requiring all customers age 2 and over to wear face coverings at all stores. 

The retail and outdoor recreation services corporation is organized as a consumers' co-operative. In the three years since launching the Force of Nature initiative in 2017, "REI donated more than $2.5 million to more than 80 organizations that promote inclusivity outdoors" by supporting women, girls and other underrepresented groups, the company said in a blog post. In 2020, women comprised "38% of its board of directors, half of its senior leadership team, 44% of retail leadership and 45% of its overall workforce," Forbes reported.