We have been hearing the acronym… DE&I…quite a lot in the news lately. We know that DE&I stands for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, but what does DE&I mean in relation to the practices and decisions of a corporation? That’s our first question.
And we have a second question which concerns the B Corporation and DE&I. Isn’t the B Corporation already committed to a moral stance with regard to the hiring and promotion of employees? Does a B Corporation need to embrace DE&I or is it a ‘given’ that the B Corp will be committed to fairness. Let’s get into it.
Our Questions
*Is DE&I simply some concepts that the business tries to put into practice in some manner?
*Is DE&I a set of policies and procedures adhered to by a corporation?
*Are there hiring and promotion quotas that must be met?
*Is it simply a set of standards?
*Does the corporation itself decide what DE&I means in their setting?
We do need an understanding of the ‘what’ of it and the ‘why’ of it, so we asked Samantha Hicks for an interview. Samantha works as the Environmental, Social, Governance Program Manager at AMS Fulfillment. AMS Fulfillment is a bi-coastal B Corporation that hires around 700 individuals for jobs requiring various levels of skill and training.
Our Interview
Thank you, Samantha, for talking with us and helping us to understand what DE&I is, to the best of your knowledge.
Q: Our first question of course is the one we’ve been asking… to your knowledge is DE&I a set of procedures and/or policies? We’re not asking about AMS Fulfillment, but instead we’re wondering about companies that have been describing themselves as adhering to DE&I – is there any agreement they sign or written record of the concepts?
Samantha: This applies to the Federal Government workforce, including all levels of government, and the medical, aviation, and law-enforcement communities, employing more than 2 million civilians across the country. Federal contractors must establish a written affirmative action plan and placement goals for women and minorities. They must also implement action-oriented programs to accomplish these goals.
Q: Ok, that makes sense. Now could we talk about AMS Fulfillment? According to the website, AMS is JEDI – Justice, Equity, Diversity, Inclusion. Please tell us about the concepts that AMS adheres to.
Samantha: AMS is not a DEI hiring organization, we are a skill-based hiring company. We accept all people into our organization who meet the minimum requirements of the job description.
We offer accommodations, adjustments or modifications made to a workplace or job duties to allow an employee with a disability to perform their job effectively, which can include changes to work schedules, providing specialized equipment, modifying the work environment, or adjusting responsibilities depending on their needs; essentially, anything that helps them fulfill their job duties despite their disability.
We offer equal training opportunities for all workers to develop personal and professional development, offered on-site at the worksite and also online for those who work remotely.
We include all employees in company communications and updates, we aim to survey all employees as we value individualistic perspectives. Transparency is a pillar of AMS.
Our organizational framework promotes the fair treatment and full participation of all people. Our workforce development programs are intended to create a place where everyone is welcome, supported and has the resources to succeed regardless of identity, race or orientation.
Q: That is so inspiring – a corporation being human. Does AMS have goals that it wants to meet?
Samantha: AMS does not have a goal in place to meet a quota of DEI, nor a target to ensure that underrepresented groups have equal opportunities and representation. There are no mandated requirements set for AMS. We embrace DEI because we want to, it’s the right thing to do, it’s best for everyone.
Having experience in HR, I understand that though DEI was pushed onto a platform for companies around 2020, these aren’t new or extreme ideas. Affirmative action and equal employment laws were enacted in the middle of the 1960s. These laws also pushed companies to develop diversity training programs to help employees adapt to increasingly integrated office environments.
AMS sets policies and practices in place to give all employees equal opportunity for career advancement. Though, as a way to acknowledge to our stakeholders the diversity of our workforce, AMS reports statistics to B Lab as required, and reports our stats on our company’s website.
Q: Yes, AMS is unique in that it is a B Corporation. We would like to know a little more about the B Corporation and DE&I. Is that why AMS has chosen JEDI as the model? It is very interesting that Justice has been added. It creates a moral foundation.
Samantha: Justice is a concept often left out when speaking about DEI…
Justice dismantles barriers to resources and opportunities in society so that all individuals and communities can live a full and dignified life. We strive to embed justice into our work to catalyze equitable outcomes for all.
Q: We know that B Corporations work within the community to help and support the people. Who does AMS work with when hiring from the community?
Samantha: When AMS first became B Corp certified in 2017, we took a pledge that our business will conduct business in a way that considers people and the environment with the aim of benefitting all stakeholders. The pledge states that AMS should aspire to do no harm and benefit all through their products, practices, and profits.
As a B Corp, AMS is legally required to consider the impact of our decisions on our employees, customers, suppliers, community, and the environment.
Since the majority of our positions are entry-level, it gives AMS access to a wider range of candidates from different backgrounds and expands the potential for hiring talent. People who are looking to make a career have the opportunity to get their foot in the door of one of the fastest-growing industries globally, third-party logistics. Rising consumer demand for quick and reliable deliveries is driving innovation in our industry, so having a diverse workforce can lead to a better understanding of diverse customer needs.
Additionally, AMS currently partners with Temporary Staffing Agencies, such as Desert Haven, a private, nonprofit organization dedicated to developing, enhancing, and promoting the capabilities of persons with developmental disabilities.
B Corps are part of a global movement to build an inclusive and sustainable economy.
Q: We know that Justice, Equity, Diversity and Inclusion are circumstances very much to be desired by employees and clients alike. What does diversity look like at AMS?
Samantha: We promote our grievance policy and have many equitable channels for employees to bring up any issues they may face, including a 3rd party confidential hotline. Our Leadership Teams take actionable steps to eliminate the issues in a timely manner and put actionable steps in place to prevent the issue from happening again. Mental health, safety, harassment and discrimination are taken extremely seriously. We have a culture where we consider our workforce Family, and we take care of each other, all stakeholders including Temps and Clients. We are a PEOPLE business; we take pride in that.
To me, I see diversity thriving in the sense of diverse perspectives at AMS, having many benefits, including increased creativity, improved decision-making, and higher innovation. Employees are more likely to be seen as unique individuals and part of a collective group doing Good for Business. I see equity when AMS develops hi-bred learning platforms, bi-lingual trainings, transparency, and providing resources and support employees’ need to succeed. I see inclusion as a sense of ownership, increased engagement, and improved morale, which leads people to be motivated and committed to their work. AMS activities committee, a group of different people from different locations, departments, tenure and rank, are passionate about including all employees in company activities, as we are ONE.
Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion are not just words. They are the framework for how we build teams, cultivate leaders, and make business a force for good.
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Thank You Samantha. We very much appreciate your experience and view of DE&I. To us it seems that DE&I is an effort by a corporation to be simply human, recognizing that we are, in fact, ONE family.
