#ChoosetoChallenge systemic gender bias and inequality

David Boone, CEO, Staples Canada

 IWD 2021

As The Working and Learning Company, our mission is clear – to inspire people to work smarter, learn more and grow every day. The pandemic has changed the way we work and the future of work forever. The lines between work, school and home are blurred and women are being disproportionately impacted.

On International Women’s Day, we must consider how our women colleagues are being impacted by the new work environment. How we can create a workplace culture that counters the regressive effects of the pandemic on women’s careers?

I’m proud to sit with an executive team that’s diverse and 50% represented by women – that diversity of thought, experiences and perspectives makes us stronger.

As CEO of Staples Canada, I #ChoosetoChallenge systemic gender bias and inequality in our workplace by creating a culture where women thrive, through:

• Creating a flexible working environment with a hybrid model of working from anywhere and office when possible.
• Fostering an environment that explores Diversity, Equity and Inclusion with associates and leaders through multiple resources.
• Developing virtual and flexible training programs for associates and creating opportunities for progression by updating our competency models.
• Providing our leaders with training to identify support mechanisms to promote Diversity, Equity and Inclusion in the workforce.

Our leadership team at Staples Canada is committed to creating a work environment that supports the new realities that women and associates are being faced with because of the pandemic, and to learning how we can improve our workplace culture to address these challenges.