Trailblazer Pacesetter LATE BLOOMER
Company Narrative
Costco Wholesale, the giant membership-only warehouse club, has been ranked as a LATE BLOOMER on the Women’s Power and Influence Index.
Costco provides paid bonding leave for employees. Additionally, they offer a detailed retaliation policy to protect employees who complain of harassment and discrimination issues.
As of 2021, roughly 45% of women make up the workforce at Costco and about 15% of women hold leadership positions.
Costco Wholesale failed to meet crucial criteria on the Index, lacking essential data such as pay gap analyses, pay parity for women, women-specific healthcare, and harassment and discrimination training. Furthermore, professional development, mentorship, and recruitment programs for women and diverse communities were either unavailable or did not meet the Index’s standards.
Workforce Profile
Equitable Pay
✘ Does the company demonstrate a clear and transparent commitment to equal pay?
Information regarding this criterion was unavailable or incomplete.
✘ Does the company perform an annual analysis of gender pay equity and pay disparities?
Information regarding this criterion was unavailable or incomplete.
✘ Do female employees earn at least 95% of what their male counterparts earn?
Information regarding this criterion was unavailable or incomplete.
Career Growth
✘ Does the company demonstrate a commitment to actively attracting, retaining, and/or promoting women within the organization?
Information regarding this criterion was unavailable or incomplete.
✘ 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?
Information regarding this criterion was unavailable or incomplete.
✘ Does the company have policies and programs in place to actively recruit diverse candidates?
Information regarding this criterion was unavailable or incomplete.
Work-Life Balance
✘ Does the company demonstrate a commitment to providing support and/or time off for women with children?
Information regarding this criterion was unavailable or incomplete.
✘ Does the company provide child care support for employees?
Information regarding this criterion was unavailable or incomplete.
✘ 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?
“Employee benefits include: Paid bonding leave”
Ref: Costco Benefits
✘ Does the company provide paid parental leave that extends beyond birthing parents to include surrogacy, adoption, and paternity leave?
Information regarding this criterion was unavailable or incomplete.
✘ Does the company demonstrate a commitment to supporting the health benefits of its female employees?
Information regarding this criterion was unavailable or incomplete.
✘ Does the company offer women-specific health benefits for female employees?
Information regarding this criterion was unavailable or incomplete.
Workplace Standards
✓ Does the company have a policy listing prohibited behaviors, such as harassment and retaliation?
“Federal law, other laws and Costco policy protect employees from retaliation if complaints are made in good faith.”
Ref: Pg. 4, Costco Mission and 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?
“All employees are expected to promptly report actual or suspected violations of law or the Code of Ethics. Federal law, other laws and Costco policy protect employees from retaliation if complaints are made in good faith. Violations involving employees should be reported to the responsible Executive Vice President, who shall be responsible for taking prompt and appropriate action to investigate and respond.”
Ref: Pg. 4, Costco Mission and Code of Ethics
Stakeholder Engagement
✘ Does the company demonstrate a commitment to helping external stakeholders address gender equality issues?
Information regarding this criterion was unavailable or incomplete.
✓ Does the company offer and support initiatives that promote gender equality in the community?
“$5 million committed to the Fearless Fund, the first Venture Capital fund built by women of color, for women of color to address the disparity that exists in venture capital funding for businesses led by women of color.”
Ref: Pg. 3, Costco Sustainability Commitment – Communities
✘ Does the company demonstrate a commitment to helping internal stakeholders/employees address gender equality issues?
Information regarding this criterion was unavailable or incomplete.
✘ Does the company offer equity-focused trainings, speaker programs, or events for employees?
Information regarding this criterion was unavailable or incomplete.