An equal opportunity employer statement is a powerful affirmation of your company’s stance on diversity, equity, and inclusivity. It clearly outlines your organization’s intentions to treat everyone equally regardless of background, culture, or identity.
But don’t be fooled into thinking your equal opportunity employer statement needs to be dull or full of jargon. We’ve picked some inspiring examples from top employers demonstrating how to craft your statements with empathy and soul.
An equal opportunity employer statement is a paragraph or two declaring a company’s commitment to providing equal employment opportunities for all applicants and employees, regardless of race, religion, gender, national origin, age, disability, marital status, or veteran status.
Also known as an affirmative action statement, this signals to job applicants that the employer complies with relevant laws and regulations regarding equal opportunity and offers a welcoming and inclusive work environment. As a bonus to the business, it also provides a positive impression to customers, business partners, and anyone else who interacts with the company.
Companies sometimes use a cookie-cutter approach to crafting their statement, copying a bland paragraph filled with legal jargon and pasting it into their job ads. Another approach taken is to craft a more empathetic message that conveys inclusivity. We’ve cherry-picked some of the best statements for you to get a better understanding of what will work for your company.
“Asana is committed to providing a workplace free from discrimination or harassment. We expect every member of the Asana community to do their part to cultivate and maintain an environment where everyone has the opportunity to feel included, and is afforded the respect and dignity they deserve.
Decisions related to hiring, compensating, training, evaluating performance, or terminating are made fairly, and we provide equal employment opportunities to all qualified candidates and employees. We examine our unconscious biases and take responsibility for always striving to create an inclusive environment that makes every employee and candidate feel welcome.”
Asana is specific about the areas of HR that its equal opportunities extend to, such as compensation, performance management, and termination decisions. The company also remains accountable by acknowledging that biases exist while pledging to find ways to identify and overcome them.
To improve this statement, job applicants and employees would benefit from learning more about the specific laws and regulations that Asana’s policy adheres to. Consider showing your compliance with regulations and be specific about what laws you are referring to in your equal opportunity employer statement.
“Scholastic is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Our policy is clear: there shall be no discrimination on the basis of age, disability, sex, race, religion or belief, gender reassignment, marriage/civil partnership, pregnancy/maternity, or sexual orientation.
We are an inclusive organization and actively promote equality of opportunity for all with the right mix of talent, skills and potential. We welcome all applications from a wide range of candidates. Selection for roles will be based on individual merit alone.”
Along with describing the specific minority groups their equal opportunity policy applies to, Scholastic goes one step further by outlining its approach to recruitment. Focusing heavily on skills and individual merit is a highly inclusive strategy that encourages job seekers from all backgrounds to apply.
To embrace a wider audience and attract even more diverse talent, Scholastic could extend the classifications listed to include those with military service, of any national origin, any political affiliation, and more. Consider the audience your statement specifically encompasses and be sure to include the various types of audience so that you can attract a diverse pool of candidates.
“We believe that the unique contributions of all Atlassians create our success. To ensure that our products and culture continue to incorporate everyone’s perspectives and experience, we never discriminate based on race, religion, national origin, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, age, or marital, veteran, or disability status.
All your information will be kept confidential according to EEO guidelines. Pursuant to the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, we will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records.”
Atlassian speaks from the heart, using authentic language to describe its culture and praising its people for its success. One favorite thing about this statement is it’s not a one-and-done approach. Instead, Atlassian recognizes that progress relies on being continuously open to welcoming new team members while providing reassurance about privacy.
People with disabilities would benefit from learning what accommodations Atlassian could offer during the application process. What accommodations can you offer? Be clear about these in your statement, rather than making ambiguous references.
“We recruit, hire, employ, train, promote, and compensate individuals based on job-related qualifications and abilities. Moody’s also has a longstanding policy of providing a work environment that respects the dignity and worth of each individual and is free from all forms of employment discrimination, including harassment, because of race, color, sex, gender, age, religion or religious creed, national origin, ancestry, citizenship, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, genetic information, physical or mental disability, military or veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.
Moody’s also provides reasonable accommodation to qualified individuals with disabilities or based on a sincerely held religious belief, in accordance with applicable laws. If you need to inquire about an accommodation, or need assistance with completing the application process, please email [email protected].”
Moody’s takes the legwork out of asking for accommodations by providing an email address for applicants who require extra support during the hiring process — what better way to prove they’re an inclusive employer? Their use of “longstanding” also signals that Moody’s isn’t new to prioritizing equal opportunity — it’s been doing so for years.
Moody’s statement does seem a little templatized and lacks soul. Ensure that your statement provides a genuine, authentic overview of your organization, instead of simply copying what others have to say.
“Nintendo is an equal opportunity employer. We offer a welcoming and inclusive environment in service to one another, our products, the diverse consumers we represent, and the communities we call home. We do all of this with kindness, empathy and respect for each other.”
Nintendo’s statement is short, sweet, and to the point. It describes the company’s core values upfront – kindness, empathy, and respect – which makes it easy for potential candidates to determine if their values align with Nintendo’s.
A lengthier version might provide more detail to describe exactly what an inclusive environment means to the company. Of course, this is determined by what your company has done or plans on doing in its equal opportunity efforts. Rather be truthful with what your company is doing, than adding fluff to your equal opportunity employer statement.
“We are actively seeking to create a diverse work environment because teams are stronger with different perspectives and experiences. We value a diverse workplace and encourage women, people of color, LGBTQIA individuals, people with disabilities, members of ethnic minorities, foreign-born residents, older members of society, and others from minority groups and diverse backgrounds to apply.
We do not discriminate on the basis of race, gender, religion, color, national origin, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, or disability status. All employees and contractors of Loom are responsible for maintaining a work culture free from discrimination and harassment by treating others with kindness and respect.”
Loom’s statement is comprehensive and covers a wide range of characteristics. It also clearly outlines why the company is committed to creating a diverse work environment — it’s not just the right thing to do; it works from a business perspective.
Loom clarifies how its employees and contractors are responsible for maintaining an inclusive work culture. This ensures everyone is held accountable for creating a safe and equitable workplace.
It would be encouraging to see this statement refer to other employee lifecycle stages like L&D or compensation rather than focusing entirely on hiring. Think about what your company is doing across the full employee lifecycle and include these efforts in your statement.
Equal opportunity employer statements can quickly become outdated due to increasing awareness of social justice issues and changing legal requirements.
This is why it is important for HR to review your statement regularly. Seek input from the right stakeholders, and revise your statement as required to align with company culture. This course correction will ensure your company continues to offer an inclusive environment for all.
