CEOs Went Quiet About Equality During Covid
Companies were becoming more open about diversity and pay gaps before the pandemic. Now they’re holding back on how they managed in 2020.
Where is everyone?
Photographer: Johner Images/Johner RFUntil the pandemic hit, companies were becoming more willing to open up about the diversity of their workforce. But even those that embraced transparency went shy on the topic when Covid hit. That suggests they have something to hide when it comes to how they managed staff during the health crisis.
A record 173 companies, with a combined market value of $13 trillion, submitted data on their employment practices to the most recent Workforce Disclosure Initiative survey, which covers 2020. The project, led by London-based governance campaigner ShareAction, gathers information from major corporations on behalf of 66 investment institutions, including Amundi SA, JP Morgan Asset Management and Schroders Plc. These investors are expected to engage with boards to drive up employment standards globally.