Staples Signs Compact To End Gender-Based Wage Gap

Framingham-based Staples has signed onto 100% Talent: The Boston Women’s Compact, an innovative effort to end the gender-based wage gap and advance women in the workforce. Staples has pledged to work with Boston Mayor Martin J. Walsh in a unique, public-private partnership to make Boston the best city in the country for working women.

As a Signatory of the 100% Talent, Staples joins Mayor Walsh in his quest to make Greater Boston the first area in the United States to eliminate the gender-based wage gap by attracting, retaining, and engaging women at all levels in Boston-area corporations.

“Staples values all of its female associates, and understands the important role gender equality plays in fostering an inclusive workplace,” said Regis Mulot, executive vice president, human resources, Staples, Inc, in a press release. “By publicly showing our commitment to advancing women in the workforce, we hope to help raise awareness of the gender-based wage gap that currently exists, and lend a voice to the movement to provide fair pay for all.”

Staples has long been a leader in equality and diversity in the workforce, with programs like its “Women Who Lead” Associate Resource Group, whose mission is to build a thriving community of female associates. The group routinely engages its members with developmental, networking and community focused events. Partnering with Friends of Families in Transition, they organized a collection for homeless families, filling gift bags for over 340 people.

“We are thrilled that Staples has signed Mayor Walsh’s 100% Talent Compact and is committed to closing the wage gap for working women,” said Megan Costello, executive director of the Mayor’s Office of Women’s advancement, in a written statement. “Staples understands that closing the wage gap is important for their employees, good for families and improves their bottom line. We thank them for their commitment.”

Joining the 100% Talent Compact opens doors for Staples to work with other Signatories to share best practices, trade knowledge, and support one another.

60 companies have signed the Compact, which is an initiative of the Boston Women’s Workforce Council.

The Council is an advisory body to Mayor Walsh and is supported by the School of Management at Simmons College.

By signing 100% Talent, businesses agree to take steps to eliminate the gender wage gap, remove the visible and invisible barriers to women’s advancement, and ensure that 100% of the talent pool is used.

Companies will report employee demographic and salary data to the Council anonymously every two years so that progress on closing the gap can be tracked.

Cathy E. Minehan, Council Chair and Dean of the Simmons School of Management said: “I commend Staples for joining the 100% Talent Compact and taking their leadership on the issue of advancing women in the workforce to the next level. Ensuring that women are paid fairly and advance through the ranks is beneficial to all employees regardless of gender, as well as to a business’ bottom line.”

The company also recently signed on to The Corporate Challenge, a groundbreaking effort by Bentley University’s Center for Women and Business to challenge companies to develop and retain their female talent and position women on their boards.

Participating companies commit to define their gender-inclusiveness goals, develop strategies to meet those goals and track their progress.

Headquartered in Framingham, Staples operates throughout North and South America, Europe, Asia, Australia and New Zealand.