Boston Scientific is one of the 2022 Best Employers for Diversity. The ranking is based on a survey of 60,000 U.S. employees working for companies with at least 1,000 employees. The respondents rated their own and other organizations on criteria such as age, gender, ethnicity, disability, LGBTQ+ status, as well as general diversity. Companies’ representation of women in senior leadership positions, and transparent reporting of diversity-related information were also considered.
Responding to the recognition, Boston Scientific Global Chief Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Officer Camille Chang Gilmore said, “We believe having an inclusive environment that values diverse perspectives is essential to fostering innovation. By embracing what makes each of us unique, we can achieve the best results for both our employees and the patients we aim to serve.”
This is the fifth consecutive year that Boston Scientific was recognized by Forbes as one of the companies most dedicated to diversity, equity and inclusion (DE&I). Knowing that meaningful DE&I progress is an ongoing journey, the company continues to take actions to:
- Provide equitable opportunities for career growth for all employees. The company offers development and advancement opportunities for all employees, including mentorship, sponsorship and leadership development programs for women and multicultural employees. For example, its GROW (Giving Real Opportunities for valuable Work experience) program matches product builders and technicians with mentors who help coach them through a series of classroom and hands-on training sessions.
- Develop leaders’ DE&I awareness and skills. All leaders must complete diversity, equity and inclusion training to raise awareness about important issues and challenges—including systemic racism and potential bias through its Anti-Racism and Cultural History curriculum—to better support their evolving global workforce.
- Pay employees equitably. Boston Scientific reports 99% or greater pay equity¹. Sustaining pay equity requires constant measurement and attention, so the company regularly conducts comprehensive audits, analyses and company-wide benchmarking of salaries to identify and eliminate disparities.
- Recruit inclusively and with purpose. The company collaborates with organizations—such as historically black colleges and universities (HBCUs)—that advocate for the advancement of individuals from underrepresented groups. Boston Scientific also requires a focus on diverse slates to provide rich pools of candidates with the opportunity to compete for open roles.
- Improve the diversity of its workforce. The company aims to increase its efforts for the stronger representation of women and multicultural talent at the supervisor and manager level in its workforce through its 3Up by 2023 goals.
- Remain transparent and accountable. Publicly sharing details about programs and progress toward goals promotes accountability. Given the strategic importance of DE&I goals globally, the company has linked measures of progress to its annual bonus program.
“We cannot innovate to solve healthcare’s toughest challenges with homogenous, status quo thinking,” said Wendy Carruthers, executive vice president, Human Resources at Boston Scientific. “We want people of all cultures, ethnicities, gender identities, backgrounds, experiences, orientations and beliefs to feel they belong so they can be engaged and empowered to share new ideas and diverse perspectives. This is what leads to our greatest breakthroughs.”
¹In 2021, Boston Scientific again reported no statistically significant pay disparity for 99% or greater of employees across gender globally and for multicultural talent¹ in the U.S. and Puerto Rico.