Teva: Supporting Pride and the LGBTQ+ Community
On 28 June 1969, a raid on Greenwich Village’s Stonewall Inn prompted riots that powered the launch of the first Gay Pride Movement in New York City. Today June is honoured as Pride month around the world, celebrating the LGBTQ+ community with rainbow flags, parades and special events, supporting equal rights for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, intersex and asexual groups.
At Teva we believe that a diverse workforce drives innovation and creativity. We foster an inclusive work environment that allows all people to express themselves and realize their full potential. We address gender gaps and support recruitment, development and retention of individuals with diverse backgrounds1.
“Our Global Inclusion and Diversity (I&D) Strategy aims to strengthen Teva’s inclusive culture, ensure gender equality at all levels and enrich our practices to enable the success of underrepresented groups throughout their employment life cycle.
“We act from acknowledging the business value I&D brings, and also from a broader social purpose that starts from within, admitting to existing gaps with a candid passion to improve and working persistently to enable a working environment where everyone can be their authentic selves."
Ravit Eshed, VP, Head of Leadership & Organizational Development
Recent employee surveys show that 82% of our workforce feels the Teva culture promotes inclusion and diversity and 79% feels everyone on their team is treated fairly, regardless of personal background or attributes.
Teva proudly celebrates Pride - not just in June, but the whole year round. Here are a few ways Teva supports the LGBTQ+ community.
Employee Champions Groups promoting positive change
Across the world, Teva has a number of Employee Resource Groups (ERGs) and I&D Champions Groups that work to promote inclusion and diversity and to foster greater opportunities for networking, mentoring, collaboration, community outreach, career development, leadership and training and cultural exchanges.
Teva USA has once again been cited as one of the ‘Best Places to work for LGBTQ equality’, achieving yet another perfect score of 100 on the 2021 Corporate Equality Index (CEI), the leading benchmarking survey on corporate policies and practices for LGBTQ workplace equality, administered by the Human Rights Campaign Foundation.
I&D Groups in Brazil, Mexico, UK and Ireland have been set up to focus on identity, gender equality and disability issues.
In the UK, Diversity Champion Christine Beckett transitioned several years ago and is helping Teva Runcorn instil a diverse and accepting workplace culture.
“When I transitioned, many of my friends waved goodbye. Two of my four siblings, and my mother, could not handle it and broke contact – and work is even harder to come by.
“Teva have been very supportive, to the extent that my gender history is not an issue one way or another. I’m treated as just another contractor, and that’s the way it should be. The policies they have in place offer me protection at work.”
Christine continues by saying “the creation of the Diversity Champions has certainly been a big and positive step in the right direction. The fact that there have been few, if any, reported issues that have come to us are perhaps a sign that Teva is getting it right.”
Pride events and talks across the globe
In many countries across the world, Teva is hosting talks, workshops, marches and more. Here are a few highlights:
- The Pride ERG in the US has organized a series of special events for the month, including a talk on gender identity and using pronouns to promote inclusion.
- In Brazil, the Ser Voce (Be You) Diversity Project focuses on gender and racial balance, I&D, LGBTQ+ issues and equity and respect for all.
- In Mexico, the I&D Committee hosted a talk and a Virtual March which everyone was invited to join.
- Teva Israel hosted a special lecture for employees on reconciling religion and LGBTQ+ identity by Rabbi Benny Lau.
“Pride month is an opportunity to celebrate and champion inclusiveness and diversity. But it’s also a chance to reflect on where we can do better, and remind ourselves that there’s still work to do. As a leader I’m committed to doing everything I can to make sure that no matter who you are, you will always feel you can be your True Self at Teva.”
Kim Innes, General Manager of Teva UK & Ireland
