Streaming platform Netflix has grown into a global entertainment force with millions of subscribers. This week, the corporation released its first-ever inclusion report showcasing the improvements and strides it has made toward diversifying its workforce and areas in which it is still looking to improve.
In its report, numbers showed that the company was able to double the number of Black professionals in its workforce to 8%, while the number of workers in leadership roles rose to 9%. The gains are a result of the company’s diversity initiatives, from forming partnerships with historically Black colleges to practicing more inclusive hiring methods.
According to the report, more than 45% of the total workforce is from an underrepresented background which adds to the diverse work culture. “Each community creates space for people to celebrate their shared cultures and histories—like Diwali, Juneteenth, and Spirit Day,” said Verna Myers, VP of Inclusion Strategy, in the report.
“They offer employees mentoring, career development, and volunteering opportunities, supporting each other through challenges. They also provide the company with insight into the perspectives, needs, and lived experiences of their communities. And for allies, they provide a place to forge bonds.”
Myers says the company’s inclusion lens helps foster an environment that not only welcomes people of color but encourages them to stay and grow in a place where they can be true to their authentic selves. “What’s distinct about these workshops is that we ask employees to identify within themselves how they’ve personally experienced and perpetuated inequity,” says Myers in the report.
“That takes a lot of courage and discomfort, but the impact can be profound. Participants walk away with not just concepts and language, but self-awareness and the tools to help put that awareness into action. To date, our team has held more than 120 workshops for teams and folks of all levels, on topics like privilege, bias, and intersectionality.”
