Trailblazer PACESETTER Late Bloomer
Company Narrative
Accenture, a company that specializes in communication and information technology, has been ranked a PACESETTER on the Women’s Power and Influence Index.
Accenture is committed to equal pay for equal work, conducts annual pay equity reviews, and has effectively achieved pay parity. Accenture also actively seeks out women and underrepresented candidates for consideration for Board positions. Accenture offers fertility benefits, support for adoption and surrogacy, caregiver concierge services, as well as paid parental leave. Accenture has a defined process to address violations of anti-discrimination and harassment policies described in its code of ethics. Accenture helps support the growth of women-led companies and holds DEI speaker events.
As of 2021, women constitute 26.77% of Accenture’s leadership.
Information related to harassment and discrimination training and professional development/ mentorship programs for women in Accenture’s workforce could not be found or did not meet the Index’s criteria standards.
Workforce Profile
Equitable Pay
✓ Does the company demonstrate a clear and transparent commitment to equal pay?
We are committed to equal pay for equal work.” Ref: Accenture Pay Equity (Website)
✓ Does the company perform an annual analysis of gender pay equity and pay disparities?
“Pay equity at Accenture means that our people receive pay that is fair and consistent when considering similarity of work, location and tenure at career level. We conduct an annual pay equity review.” Ref: Accenture Pay Equity (Website)
✓ Do female employees earn at least 95% of what their male counterparts earn?
“As of our last review, which reflected annual pay changes effective December 1, 2022, we have dollar-for-dollar, 100% pay equity for women compared to men in every country where we operate (certain subsidiaries, including recent acquisitions, and countries with de minimis headcount, temporary employees and interns were excluded from the analysis).” Ref: Accenture Pay Equity (Website)
Career Growth
✓ Does the company demonstrate a commitment to actively attracting, retaining, and/or promoting women within the organization?
“We act on our commitment to gender equality by providing targeted support, flexible work arrangements, comprehensive training programs, benefits and more. We have set bold goals to accelerate gender equality, and we are well on our way to achieve gender parity—for those whose gender is binary—by 2025.” Ref: Accenture DEI Numbers (Website)
✘ Does the company provide professional development programs designed specifically for female employees?
Information regarding this criterion was unavailable or incomplete.
✘ Does the company provide professional development programs designed specifically for diverse employees?
Information regarding this criterion was unavailable or incomplete.
✘ Does the company offer a formal mentoring program to support the career advancement of all female employees?
Information regarding this criterion was unavailable or incomplete.
✘ Does the company offer a formal mentoring program to support the career advancement of diverse employees?
Information regarding this criterion was unavailable or incomplete.
✓ Does the company have policies and programs in place to actively recruit female candidates?
“Board Diversity Policy—implemented a new policy that as part of the search process for a new director, the Nominating, Governance & Sustainability Committee will actively seek out women and underrepresented candidates to include in the pool from which Board nominees are chosen.” Ref: Accenture UN 2021
✓ Does the company have policies and programs in place to actively recruit diverse candidates?
“Board Diversity Policy—implemented a new policy that as part of the search process for a new director, the Nominating, Governance & Sustainability Committee will actively seek out women and underrepresented candidates to include in the pool from which Board nominees are chosen.” Ref: Accenture UN 2021
Work-Life Balance
✓ Does the company demonstrate a commitment to providing support and/or time off for women with children?
“No two families are alike. And all families matter. That’s why all families at Accenture are supported by a robust offering of benefits – including fertility benefits, support for adoption and surrogacy, and caregiver concierge services.” Ref: Accenture Benefits (Website)
✓ Does the company provide child care support for employees?
” Subsidized back-up dependent care, as well as a concierge service, is available for children, spouses or elderly family members.” Ref: Accenture Benefits (Website)
✘ Does the company offer subsidized child care?
Information regarding this criterion was unavailable or incomplete.
✓ Does the company offer paid maternity leave for birthing parents?
“16 weeks paid maternity leave for birth parents” Ref: Accenture Benefits (Website)
✓Does the company provide paid parental leave that extends beyond birthing parents to include surrogacy, adoption, and paternity leave?
“8 weeks paid time off for other parents” Ref: Accenture Benefits (Website)
✓ Does the company demonstrate a commitment to supporting the health benefits of its female employees?
“No two families are alike. And all families matter. That’s why all families at Accenture are supported by a robust offering of benefits – including fertility benefits, support for adoption and surrogacy, and caregiver concierge services.” Ref: Accenture Benefits (Website)
✓ Does the company offer women-specific health benefits for female employees?
“Accenture provides fertility and adoption navigation support, as well as reimbursements for adoption and surrogacy fees.” Ref: Accenture Benefits (Website)
Workplace Standards
✓ Does the company have a policy listing prohibited behaviors, such as harassment and retaliation?
“Examples of disrespectful behavior—that could also rise to the level of harassment (if there is a sustained pattern of conduct, a single incident of severe conduct or if based on personal characteristics such as race, color, ancestry, national/regional or ethnic origin, religion, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, pregnancy, age or disability)—include, but are not limited to:
- Abusive, threatening, bullying or intimidating behavior
- Targeted vulgarity and rudeness
- Repeated, blatant disregard by an individual for another person’s personal time
- Harassment based on personal characteristics
- Deliberate exclusion or continued isolation from work social activities (including by speaking in a language that others do not understand with the intent of such exclusion or isolation)
- Displays of offensive material or offensive jokes
- Unwanted physical contact
- Making fun of a person’s accent or way of speaking
- Microaggressions or micro-inequities that negatively affect another’s workplace experience; examples include, but are not limited to: – Insensitive jokes or demeaning comments – Frequently interrupting colleagues or taking credit for their work – Using a nickname that a colleague dislikes – Failing to acknowledge certain employees’ contributions – Disrespectful or insensitive conduct or stereotyping based on personal characteristics where one feels singled out or belittled due to their identity
- Sexual harassment or other unwanted conduct which has the purpose or effect of violating someone’s dignity Sexual harassment involves unwanted conduct of a sexual nature and includes, but is not limited to, the examples above or:
- Sexually suggestive, lewd or indecent comments, jokes, pictures or other materials
- Repeated unwanted attention, such as requests for meeting up socially or phone calls, texts or messages to an individual without a work-related reason
- Unwanted physical contact of a sexual nature or displays of affection
- When a person in a position of power implies that employment decisions may be affected by acceptance or rejection of sexual advances We expect all our people, regardless of seniority, position or contribution to Accenture, to treat each other, and others we interact with in work-related situations— whether in person or online—with dignity, respect and professional courtesy. This includes client and supplier personnel, advisors to our clients and hotel, restaurant and airline staff. We ensure a workplace free of disrespectful behavior or harassment. Harassment on the basis of personal characteristics is illegal in many jurisdictions. Disrespectful behavior is also potentially illegal or legally actionable in many jurisdictions. Accenture’s ethical values go beyond what the law requires. We require a workplace that is free from any form of disrespectful behavior or harassment, whether it is covered by law or not” Ref: Pg 11, Accenture Code of Ethics
✘ Does the company mandate all employees to undergo harassment and discrimination training?
Information regarding this criterion was unavailable or incomplete.
✓ Does the company have a defined harassment policy that includes promptly addressing reported incidents?
“We each have a personal responsibility to act ethically and comply with the law, the Code of Business Ethics and Accenture policies and procedures at all times. Violations break trust with Accenture and our clients and may result in individual disciplinary action, up to and including termination of employment, and perhaps legal liability. In some cases, Accenture may have a legal or other obligation to report the results of an investigation to the appropriate law enforcement authorities, or may otherwise choose to do so. “ Ref: Pg 5, Accenture Code of Ethics
Stakeholder Engagement
✓ Does the company demonstrate a commitment to helping external stakeholders address gender equality issues?
“We believe the future workforce is an equal one and we are taking action to get to equal.” Ref: Accenture DEI Numbers (Website)
✓ Does the company offer and support initiatives that promote gender equality in the community?
“Accenture and Springboard Enterprises, a leading network of influencers, investors and innovators dedicated to building high-growth companies led by women, are excited to celebrate “Women Transforming Industries”. b.well, Medable, Obsess and Reflaunt are leveraging technology to advance the retail, health and life sciences industries with ground-breaking innovations.
Accenture and Springboard share a common commitment to gender parity and together we’ll help propel the growth of women-led companies like these.” Ref: Accenture DEI Numbers (Website)
✓ Does the company demonstrate a commitment to helping internal stakeholders/employees address gender equality issues?
“We believe the future workforce is an equal one and we are taking action to get to equal.” Ref: Accenture DEI Numbers (Website)
✓ Does the company offer equity-focused trainings, speaker programs, or events for employees?
“Finding answers starts with asking the right questions with the right people. So just imagine what the most powerful women trailblazers could achieve together, at the right time, with the right platform. That time is now, and that platform is WLF 22. Accenture will bring these powerful, creative leaders together to ask the possible – to seize the moment and create meaningful, lasting change.”