MULTI-YEAR U.S. ACTION PLAN
Our Pledge to Equality & Fairness
In summer 2020, Whirlpool Corporation committed to our Racial Equality Pledge. This Pledge is an extension of our company’s enduring values of Inclusion & Diversity, with a clear focus on ensuring equality and fairness.
We are now three years into our five-year Pledge timeline. While we have seen some meaningful progress we also recognize that some of the actions contained in this Pledge require longer-term sustained and systemic changes to deliver the intended impact.
Whirlpool Corporation is committed to staying the course to drive sustainable positive impact both within our four walls and in our communities, in hopes this will be a ripple into the broader U.S. community.
Marc Bitzer, Chairman & CEO
Racial Equality Pledge Commitments & Progress
The work of the Racial Equality Pledge is split into what we can drive within our company and what we can influence within our communities.
The following updates highlight some of the work that has been done as part of the Racial Equality Pledge to promote inclusive environments where all can thrive.
EQUALITY & FAIRNESS WITHIN OUR COMPANY
Unconscious Bias & Empathy Training
Pledge Commitment Met.
Starting in late 2021, a three-part Unconscious Bias & Empathy training course was deployed to all U.S. based people leaders. Over 1300 employees attended this training. While this Pledge commitment was met in 2022, our learning journey continued into 2023 with global deployment of training materials and a 2nd phase for U.S. based people leaders to continue the conversation. We will continue to incorporate inclusion & diversity learning materials across the company as these remain part of Whirlpool’s Enduring Values.
Pay Practices
Pledge Commitment Met.
A review of pay practices to ensure fairness and equality was completed and has been incorporated into our ongoing HR processes.
Juneteenth Day of Impact
Pledge Commitment Met.
In ongoing conversations with Benton Harbor city officials & residents, participants identified that one of the best ways Whirlpool could positively impact the community and support the city’s plan was by revitalizing the city’s parks.
HBCU Student Support & Recruiting
Pledge Commitment in Progress
In 2022, Whirlpool Corporation formalized a relationship with Florida A&M University (FAMU) to provide scholarship funding, appliances, mentoring partnerships, and engagement with Whirlpool employees for students in the College of Engineering.
Employee Development Opportunities
Pledge Commitment Met.
At Whirlpool, providing professional and personal development is part of our commitment to our employees’ well-being. Opportunities such as mentoring, upskilling through virtual learning, educational reimbursement programs and more are available…
Inclusion & Diversity are enduring values for Whirlpool Corporation. Because of our actions to create a culture where employees feel welcomed, valued, respected and heard, we believe employees of all backgrounds will be more apt to join and stay with Whirlpool. And this, in turn, will help us deliver products that improve life at home. We will continue to take actions to listen to our employees and evolve our talent processes and expect this will continue to build and sustain an employee base that represents the diversity of our talent pools.
Whirlpool’s Global Headquarters is based in Southwest Michigan with offices in both Saint Joseph and Benton Harbor – often referred to as the “Twin Cities”. Whirlpool has been here for over a century and is invested in building a community where employees and residents can all thrive:
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Whirlpool Corporation has a long history of working with the city of Benton Harbor and our surrounding communities to drive progress and to make our communities a great place to work and live.
– Pam Klyn, Executive Vice President Corporate Relations & Sustainability
We want this community to work for all of us. This means …
Supporting students to achieve their hopes and dreams for the future.
Investing in infrastructure where families can come together to laugh, grow and learn.
Being a partner to the city to support their vision for the future
The following initiatives are intended to support the areas where residents, city officials and employees told us it is needed the most.
EQUALITY & FAIRNESS WITHIN OUR COMMUNITY
Benton Harbor High School Mentoring
Pledge Commitment in Progress
Building a strong foundation and a vision for the future for high school students is one key to future success. To facilitate a mentoring program at Benton Harbor High School, Whirlpool employees partnered with Jobs for Michigan’s Graduates (JMG)...
Apprenticeship Programs
Pledge Commitment in Progress
Whirlpool Corporation supports three state-certified apprenticeship programs providing opportunities for on-the-job experiences and educational success. Participants in these programs work through a structured rotation of roles to gain exposure to…
Berrien County Internships
Pledge Commitment in Progress
After a successful pilot program in 2021, the Possibilities at Home (P@TH) internship program launched in 2022 with 10 interns and expanded to 12 interns in 2023. In the first three years of this program, these students had a broad range of…
Boys & Girls Club Technology Programming
Pledge Commitment in Progress
For many years, Whirlpool Corporation has been a corporate sponsor of the Boys & Girls Club of Benton Harbor and their now expanded footprint as the Boys & Girls Club of Greater Southwest Michigan. As we look to how the Boys & Girls Club can…
Benton Harbor Area Schools
Pledge Commitment in Progress
Investing in the area’s youth is investing in the future of the region. By partnering with Benton Harbor Area Schools, Whirlpool employees and the Whirlpool Foundation have been able to provide support in several critical areas:
Expand Housing
Pledge Commitment Met.
After breaking ground in 2021, construction began on the waterfront multi-family housing complex situated in Benton Harbor across the street from Whirlpool’s North American Headquarters and Benton Harbor Technology Center. Named after Benton…
Supplier Diversity
Pledge Commitment Met.
Whirlpool actively tracks and invites diverse suppliers to bid on our portfolio of work, promoting diverse vendors as a key component of our supply base. To enable this, we maintain partnerships with community organizations and supplier…
Entrepreneur Microgrants
Pledge Commitment Met.
Businesses owned by local entrepreneurs that have won prizes in the micro-grant pitch nights hosted by Emerge Innovation Hub, in collaboration with Whirlpool and Mosaic CCDA:
Whirlpool Corporation and City of Benton Harbor Team Up to Revitalize Community Park for Third Consecutive Year
Whirlpool Corporation celebrated its third annual “Day of Impact'' with more than 100 employees and elected officials volunteering to make improvements to Charles Yarbrough Park in Benton Harbor, Mich. Nestled along the St. Joseph River, in walking distance from...
Racial Equality Pledge News
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Whirlpool Corporation and City of Benton Harbor Team Up to Revitalize Community Park for Third Consecutive YearJul 1, 2024Whirlpool Corporation celebrated its third annual “Day of Impact” with more than 100 employees and elected officials volunteering to make improvements to Charles Yarbrough Park in Benton Harbor, Mich. Nestled along the St. Joseph River, in walking distance from... -
Whirlpool Corporation Releases 2023 Sustainability ReportMar 7, 2024The report highlights company progress against emissions reductions goals, sustainable innovation and investment in people and communities. Whirlpool Corporation (NYSE: WHR) released its 2023 Sustainability Report today, reinforcing the company’s commitment to... -
Whirlpool Corporation Once Again Earns Top Score In Human Rights Campaign Foundation’s 2023-2024 Corporate Equality IndexNov 30, 2023Whirlpool Corporation announced today that it received a score of 100 on the Human Rights Campaign Foundation’s 2023 2024 Corporate Equality Index (CEI), the nation’s foremost benchmarking survey and report measuring corporate policies and practices related to... -
How Disability Inclusion Improves Life at HomeNov 2, 2023The Awareness of Visible and Invisible Disabilities (AVID) Employee Resource Group (ERG) at Whirlpool Corporation strives to progress the company’s vision of improving life at home, including for the 1 in 4 people globally who experience a disability. In... -
Unconscious Bias & Empathy TrainingNov 2, 2023Pledge Commitment Met. Starting in late 2021, a three part Unconscious Bias & Empathy training course was deployed to all U.S. based people leaders. Over 1300 employees attended this training. While this Pledge commitment was met in 2022, our learning journey... -
Pay PracticesNov 2, 2023Pledge Commitment Met. A review of pay practices to ensure fairness and equality was completed and has been incorporated into our ongoing HR processes. -
Juneteenth Day of ImpactNov 2, 2023Pledge Commitment Met. For our U.S. employees, we have positioned Juneteenth as a day of impact, intended for volunteerism in service of our community and in recognition of the holiday. In ongoing conversations with Benton Harbor city officials & residents,... -
HBCU Student Support & RecruitingNov 2, 2023Pledge Commitment in Progress. In 2022, Whirlpool Corporation formalized a relationship with Florida A&M University (FAMU) to provide scholarship funding, appliances, mentoring partnerships, and engagement with Whirlpool employees for students in the College of... -
Employee Development OpportunitiesNov 2, 2023Pledge Commitment Met. At Whirlpool, providing professional and personal development is part of our commitment to our employees’ well being. Opportunities such as mentoring, upskilling through virtual learning, educational reimbursement programs and more are... -
Entrepreneur MicrograntsNov 2, 2023Pledge Commitment Met. Businesses owned by local entrepreneurs that have won prizes in the micro grant pitch nights hosted by Emerge Innovation Hub, in collaboration with Whirlpool and Mosaic CCDA -
Supplier DiversityNov 2, 2023Pledge Commitment Met. Whirlpool actively tracks and invites diverse suppliers to bid on our portfolio of work, promoting diverse vendors as a key component of our supply base. To enable this, we maintain partnerships with community organizations and supplier… -
Expand HousingNov 2, 2023Pledge Commitment Met. After breaking ground in 2021, construction began on the waterfront multi family housing complex situated in Benton Harbor across the street from Whirlpool’s North American Headquarters and Benton Harbor Technology Center. Named after Benton... -
Benton Harbor Area SchoolsNov 2, 2023Pledge Commitment in Progress. Investing in the area’s youth is investing in the future of the region. By partnering with Benton Harbor Area Schools, Whirlpool employees and the Whirlpool Foundation have been able to provide support in several critical areas -
Boys & Girls Club Technology ProgrammingNov 2, 2023Pledge Commitment in Progress. For many years, Whirlpool Corporation has been a corporate sponsor of the Boys & Girls Club of Benton Harbor and their now expanded footprint as the Boys & Girls Club of Greater Southwest Michigan. As we look to how the Boys & Girls... -
Berrien County InternshipsNov 2, 2023Pledge Commitment Met. After a successful pilot program in 2021, the Possibilities at Home (P@TH) internship program launched in 2022 with 10 interns and expanded to 12 interns in 2023. In the first three years of this program, these students had a broad range of... -
Apprenticeship ProgramsNov 2, 2023Pledge Commitment in Progress. Whirlpool Corporation supports three state certified apprenticeship programs providing opportunities for on the job experiences and educational success. Participants in these programs work through a structured rotation of roles to... -
Benton Harbor High School MentoringNov 2, 2023Pledge Commitment in Progress. Building a strong foundation and a vision for the future for high school students is one key to future success. To facilitate a mentoring program at Benton Harbor High School, Whirlpool employees partnered with Jobs for Michigan’s... -
Whirlpool Corporation Named a 2023 Top Company for Executive Women by SeramountSep 19, 2023Whirlpool Corporation was recently named to the 2023 Seramount Top Companies for Executive Women list. The award recognizes the company for its inclusive hiring practices and significant progress in culture and commitment. Seramount’s list identifies the top... -
Whirlpool Corporation Joins NOAR and the City of Benton Harbor for June Woods Park Dedication EventAug 22, 2023Whirlpool Corporation, Neighbors Organizing Against Racism (NOAR) and The City of Benton Harbor returned to Broadway Park, where the Whirlpool Day of Impact 2023 took place a few months back, to honor June Woods, a former slave who came to Benton Harbor in 1870.... -
Whirlpool Corporation Named As One of the Best Employers for Women in America by ForbesJul 25, 2023Whirlpool Corporation has been recognized by Forbes as one of the Best Employers for Women in America. This prestigious award is presented by Forbes and Statista Inc., the world-leading statistics portal and industry ranking provider. “Whirlpool is deeply... -
Whirlpool Corporation Named “Best Place to Work for Disability Inclusion” for the Seventh Straight YearJul 11, 2023Whirlpool Corporation has been recognized as a “Best Place to Work for Disability Inclusion” after receiving a 100 percent score on the 2023 Disability Equality Index (DEI) for the seventh straight year. The DEI is the world’s most comprehensive benchmarking tool...