Press Release

Unilever Signs White House Equal Pay Pledge

Unilever US announced today it joins 29 companies, including corporate members Target, Coca Cola, CVS, and Hersheys, in signing the White House Equal Pay Pledge. Unilever believes that business plays a critical role in reducing the pay gap. By signing the pledge, Unilever US commits to conducting an annual company-wide gender pay analysis, reviewing hiring and promotion processes and procedures to reduce unconscious bias and structural barriers, and embedding equal pay efforts into broader equity initiatives. The pledge reaffirms the company's commitment to the advancement of women’s economic inclusion as a business priority and Unilever will continue to conduct comprehensive analyses of rewards and compensation across the organization.

Published 8 years ago | About a 2 minute read

As part of The Unilever Sustainable Living Plan, which is the company’s strategy for sustainable growth, Unilever created a framework for fair compensation across the organization. The “Framework for Fair Compensation” outlines how the various existing elements of the company’s compensation packages deliver fair compensation to employees and is supported by a methodology that monitors employee’s benefits.

“Unilever continues to be vocal about the equality of women in the workplace,” said Mike Clementi, Unilever North America Vice President of Human Resources. “By signing the White House Equal Pay Pledge, we remain committed to reviewing our policies and ensuring Unilever is a leader in providing benefits that empower women at work.”

The White House Equal Pay Pledge fits in to a larger goal of creating gender balance throughout Unilever. Unilever North America is currently at 49% gender balance for managers and above, and the company continues to strive to foster an environment where each individual feels uniquely valued and has equal opportunities.

Over the past year, Unilever has reviewed and updated its benefits and on-the-job training to help create gender parity and promote the advancement of women within the company. Benefits include IVF and egg freezing, 16-week paid maternity leave, phase-back programs for mothers returning to work, agile working and job-sharing positions. Unilever also offers back-up child care and elder care, emotional support counseling for families, college preparation and financial counseling—with benefits applying to domestic partners and same-sex couples.

For more information on Unilever’s commitment to gender parity and the White House Equal Pay Pledge, please click here.