TRAILBLAZER Pacesetter Late Bloomer

American Express, a multinational financial services corporation, has been ranked as a TRAILBLAZER on the Women’s Power and Influence Index.

American Express achieved 100% pay equity as of 2020. American Express incorporates inclusive hiring practices and is committed to recruiting candidates from diverse backgrounds. To support employees’ work-life balance, American Express offers paid parental leave. In 2022, American Express held events to celebrate International Women’s Day and invited speakers to discuss the importance of intersectionality and DEI.

As of 2022, women constitute 63.7% of the workforce and 41.13% of leadership. The fraction of women in American Express’s workforce increased 15.2% from 2021 to 2022 with the fraction of women in leadership increasing 4.4% between these years as well.

Information related to subsidized child care could not be found or did not meet the Index’s criteria standards.

Review the comprehensive WPI criteria and methodology.

✓ Does the company demonstrate a clear and transparent commitment to equal pay? 

“At American Express, we have a longstanding commitment to pay all colleagues equitably and that our compensation practices are free from bias. To help meet that commitment, we regularly review our compensation practices to ensure they support pay equity and transparency.” Ref: Pg 1, American Express Pay Equity

✓ Does the company perform an annual analysis of gender pay equity and pay disparities? 

“Additionally, each year, American Express works with an independent third-party to conduct a comprehensive pay equity review. The review assesses pay on a statistical basis and considers a multitude of factors known to impact compensation, including but not limited to, tenure, role, level, geography and performance. In recent years, this review has covered our entire global colleague base. The review process identifies inconsistencies in pay based on gender globally and based on race and ethnicity in the United States. Where necessary and appropriate, salary adjustments are made to address these inconsistencies.” Ref: Pg 1, American Express Pay Equity

✓ Do female employees earn at least 95% of what their male counterparts earn?

“In 2019, the goal of our review and subsequent adjustments was to achieve pay parity, meaning differences in pay were statistically insignificant. In 2020, we went even further and made additional investments to achieve 100% pay equity for colleagues across genders globally and across races and ethnicities in the United States. All necessary and appropriate salary adjustments were made to achieve 100% pay equity.” Ref: Pg 1, American Express Pay Equity

✓ Does the company demonstrate a commitment to actively attracting, retaining, and/or promoting women within the organization? 

“American Express has been working with Year Up since 2007 to address the need for a strong entry-level talent pipeline and increase the representation of diverse candidates across the enterprise. Through this program, we have hosted over 600 interns since 2007.” Ref: Pg 13, American Express DE&I Report 2022

✓ Does the company provide professional development programs designed specifically for female employees? 

“Women’s Interest Employee Network (WIN) enhances the unique diversity women bring to the workplace, elevating career satisfaction and growth among its members through professional and personal development programs, leadership engagement opportunities, and relationship-building activities. WIN also has Executive chapters to serve our most senior women.” Ref: Pg 1, American Express Employee Networks

✓ Does the company provide professional development programs designed specifically for diverse employees?

“Black Employee Network (BEN) is one of the largest Employee Networks at American Express. BEN aims to create a dynamic and culturally enriched work environment, and helps to attract and retain diverse talent. BEN also provides programming that supports member engagement, career advancement, and innovative thinking.BEN also has an Executive chapter to serve our most senior black executives” Ref: Pg 1, American Express Employee Networks

✓ Does the company offer a formal mentoring program to support the career advancement of all female employees? 

“This leadership development program equips high-potential Vice Presidents with the opportunity to strengthen their leadership behaviors and move into complex roles across the enterprise. The experience includes instructor-led sessions with external experts, speaker series with internal leaders, leadership assessments, mentorship, and more.” Ref: Pg 23, American Express DE&I Report 2022

✓ Does the company offer a formal mentoring program to support the career advancement of diverse employees?  

“This leadership development program equips high-potential Vice Presidents with the opportunity to strengthen their leadership behaviors and move into complex roles across the enterprise. The experience includes instructor-led sessions with external experts, speaker series with internal leaders, leadership assessments, mentorship, and more.” Ref: Pg 23, American Express DE&I Report 2022

✓ Does the company have policies and programs in place to actively recruit female candidates?

“To reinforce the importance of building a diverse and inclusive team in a way that has a positive impact on the colleague experience, we continue to build on our momentum in several key areas, focusing on inclusive hiring. Doing so not only reflects the communities we serve, but it also helps us enrich our workplace and improve our performance. That’s why we are committed to recruiting candidates from diverse backgrounds worldwide, including women, those from different racial and ethnic groups, LGBTQ+ individuals, veterans, and people with disabilities. Our recruiting processes, highlighted below, help us to do just that.” Ref: Pg 12, American Express DE&I Report 2022

✓ Does the company have policies and programs in place to actively recruit diverse candidates? 

“To reinforce the importance of building a diverse and inclusive team in a way that has a positive impact on the colleague experience, we continue to build on our momentum in several key areas, focusing on inclusive hiring. Doing so not only reflects the communities we serve, but it also helps us enrich our workplace and improve our performance. That’s why we are committed to recruiting candidates from diverse backgrounds worldwide, including women, those from different racial and ethnic groups, LGBTQ+ individuals, veterans, and people with disabilities. Our recruiting processes, highlighted below, help us to do just that.” Ref: Pg 12, American Express DE&I Report 2022

✓ Does the company demonstrate a commitment to providing support and/or time off for women with children?

“At Bright Horizons your child’s health, safety, and wellness is our top priority. We continually monitor state and local public health guidelines, consult with our medical experts, and use our considerable experience to guide our practices. We’re prepared to respond quickly and adjust those health and safety practices as needed, to ensure children, families, and teachers are protected.” Ref: American Express Childcare Benefits (Website)

✓ Does the company provide child care support for employees?  

“Our center has been welcoming families since 2008 for their back-up, school vacation, and summer care needs. Throughout the year, we offer virtual family information sessions and workshops, themed program weeks, and many other events for children ages 6 weeks to 12 years.” Ref: American Express Childcare 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?

“‘Birthing mothers’ can get an additional six to eight weeks of paid, medically necessary leave related to the birth of their child. American Express offers 10 fully paid weeks off for new moms. They also offer 6 weeks off for adoptive parents. In 2017 Amex changed policy to give six months total maternity/parental leave.” Ref: American Express Parental Leave Policy (Website)

✓Does the company provide paid parental leave that extends beyond birthing parents to include surrogacy, adoption, and paternity leave?

“‘Birthing mothers’ can get an additional six to eight weeks of paid, medically necessary leave related to the birth of their child. American Express offers 10 fully paid weeks off for new moms. They also offer 6 weeks off for adoptive parents. In 2017 Amex changed policy to give six months total maternity/parental leave.” Ref: American Express Parental Leave Policy (Website)

✓ Does the company demonstrate a commitment to supporting the health benefits of its female employees?

“The company reimburses employees up to $35,000 of adoption or surrogacy expenses; offers up to $35,000 in reproductive and fertility treatment benefits over the employee’s lifetime; flexwork arrangements, and “parent concierges” to keep employees fully informed about their benefits.” Ref: American Express Childcare Benefits (Website)

✓ Does the company offer women-specific health benefits for female employees?

“The company reimburses employees up to $35,000 of adoption or surrogacy expenses; offers up to $35,000 in reproductive and fertility treatment benefits over the employee’s lifetime; flexwork arrangements, and “parent concierges” to keep employees fully informed about their benefits.” Ref: American Express Childcare Benefits (Website)

✓ Does the company have a policy listing prohibited behaviors, such as harassment and retaliation?

“To maintain a positive work environment, we must take steps to ensure that it is free from harassment. “Harassment” includes offensive behavior that interferes with another’s work environment or that has the purpose or effect of creating an offensive, intimidating or hostile work environment. Conduct will be considered harassment regardless of whether it’s done physically or verbally, whether it’s done in person or by other means (such as harassing notes or emails), and whether it’s sexual in nature or otherwise inappropriate. Potentially offensive behavior includes unwelcome sexual advances or remarks. It may also include slurs, inappropriate jokes or disparaging comments about subjects such as race, religion or ethnicity.” Ref: Pg 6, American Express Code of Conduct

✓ Does the company mandate all employees to undergo harassment and discrimination training?

“Each time you take this Code of Conduct training, you renew that commitment. Know the Code. Understand it. Put it into practice every day. Nothing could be more critical to your success and the continued success of American Express.” Ref: Pg i, American Express Code of Conduct

✓ Does the company have a defined harassment policy that includes promptly addressing reported incidents?

“To maintain the highest standards of integrity, we must dedicate ourselves to complying with our Code, Company policies and procedures, and applicable laws and regulations. Individuals who fail to do so will be subject to disciplinary action that may include termination. The extent of any disciplinary measures will depend on the circumstances of the violation. All discipline will be applied in a manner consistent with our Company’s policies and practices, as well as the law. In addition, applicable regulatory authorities may impose fines and criminal or civil penalties on at-fault individuals. Anyone who retaliates against a person as a result of their making a good faith report or participating in an investigation will be subject to disciplinary action that may include termination. “ Ref: Pg 2, American Express Code of Conduct

✓ Does the company demonstrate a commitment to helping external stakeholders address gender equality issues?

“G100 Women’s Network Program – This program brings together a diverse group of high-potential women who aspire to C-suite positions. The program focuses on supporting their leadership development and strengthening their external network of peers.” Ref: Pg 30, American Express DE&I Report 2022

✓ Does the company offer and support initiatives that promote gender equality in the community?

✓ Does the company demonstrate a commitment to helping internal stakeholders/employees address gender equality issues?

“In March, we celebrated International Women’s Day by hosting two global events—attended by nearly 4,000 colleagues. We welcomed Safeena Husain, founder and executive director of the nonprofit organization Educate Girls, for a conversation about the barriers women leaders face and the importance of mentorship. Then, Sunny Hostin, three-time Emmy Award-winning journalist and co-host of The View, joined us to talk about the importance of intersectionality and how we can show up for each other as allies.” Ref: Pg 29, American Express DE&I Report 2022

✓ Does the company offer equity-focused trainings, speaker programs, or events for employees?

“In March, we celebrated International Women’s Day by hosting two global events—attended by nearly 4,000 colleagues. We welcomed Safeena Husain, founder and executive director of the nonprofit organization Educate Girls, for a conversation about the barriers women leaders face and the importance of mentorship. Then, Sunny Hostin, three-time Emmy Award-winning journalist and co-host of The View, joined us to talk about the importance of intersectionality and how we can show up for each other as allies.” Ref: Pg 29, American Express DE&I Report 2022

*Our Index utilizes binary measurements, where ✓ represents a score of 1, and ✘ represents a score of 0.

*All links are valid as of April 2024