WELLESLEY, Mass., July 15, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- The U.S. business group of Sun Life Financial joins over 130 Boston area companies by signing on to the 100% Talent: The Boston Women's Compact, pledging commitment to leveling the playing field for working women. This represents one of many commitments by Sun Life to embrace a fully diverse workforce and advance equality.
The Boston Women's Workforce Council, an initiative of Boston Mayor Marty Walsh, is a partnership between the City of Boston and Simmons College School of Management. Companies that sign the Compact join the ongoing discussion concerning employer experiences striving for gender equity and collaborate with fellow signees on best practices to reduce gender wage discrepancy and develop the talent of female employees. The compact also collects demographic and compensation data from participating employers to produce concrete, measurable steps to close the wage gap.
According to a 2015 report from the American Association of University Women, women still are paid, on average, approximately 79% of what men are paid.1
"Diversity and inclusion are at the core of our values at Sun Life and this encompasses our support for the advancement of women in the workforce," says Emily Schur, Vice President of Human Resources for Sun Life Financial. "We are pleased to join the illustrious list of Boston area businesses who have signed the Compact and to publicly show our commitment to closing the gender wage gap."
A centerpiece of Sun Life's comprehensive Diversity & Inclusion program is its Inclusion Networks, which bring together groups of employees representing diverse communities for professional development, idea sharing and community involvement. Its Women's Leadership Network (WLN) comprises over 500 Sun Life employees who are dedicated to helping women advance their careers and achieve their full potential, both professionally and personally, through mentoring opportunities, development programs, education, and various supportive activities.
WLN works alongside other diverse groups of Sun Life employees such as the Cross Cultural Continuum (C3), Gays, Lesbians and Others Building Equality (GLOBE), Hispanic Organization for Leaders and Achievers (HOLA), and Asian American Heritage Association (AAHA) to foster and nourish an inclusive workplace culture and to contribute to the community.
To learn more about 100% Talent: The Boston Women's Compact, visit: http://www.bostonwomensworkforcecouncil.com/.
To learn more about Sun Life's Diversity & Inclusions program, visit www.sunlife.com/usdiversityandinclusion .
1. American Association of University Women (AAUW), Report: The Simple Truth about the Gender Pay Gap, 2015
About Sun Life Financial
Sun Life Financial is a leading international financial services organization providing a diverse range of protection and wealth products and services to individuals and corporate customers. Sun Life Financial has operations in a number of markets worldwide, including Canada, the United States, the United Kingdom, Ireland, Hong Kong, the Philippines, Japan, Indonesia, India, China, Australia, Singapore, Vietnam, Malaysia and Bermuda. Sun Life Financial Inc. trades on the Toronto (TSX), New York (NYSE) and Philippine (PSE) stock exchanges under the ticker symbol SLF. For more information, please visit www.sunlife.com.
In the United States, Sun Life Financial is one of the largest group benefits providers serving more than 60,000 employers in small, medium, and large workplaces across the country. Sun Life's broad portfolio of products and services in the U.S. includes Disability and Absence Management, Life, Dental and Vision, Voluntary, and Stop-Loss insurance. This includes the acquisition of Assurant Employee Benefits in Q1 2016. For more information, please visit www.sunlife.com/us.
Media contacts:
Amanda Gallo
Sun Life Financial
amanda.gallo@sunlife.com
781-446-1264
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SOURCE Sun Life Financial U.S.