By; Hadley Roy
The core of Ally Financial’s diversity and inclusion strategy is creating a welcoming workplace for people of all backgrounds, according to Reggie Willis, Chief Diversity Officer. With a focus on an inclusive work environment, Ally Financial has made great strides in diversity and inclusion. Ally reports a full 50% of employees are women, including 27% of executive-level employees, and 35% of employees are people of color.
One of the key pillars behind Ally Financial’s diversity programs and commitment to creating a welcoming workplace are the company’s employee resource groups, including groups for Hispanic employees, African American employees, Asian and Middle Eastern employees, LGBTQ+ employees, women, veterans, and people with disabilities. Ally employee resource groups are designed to support business connectivity, career development, community outreach, and diverse recruiting.
An additional pillar in Ally Financial’s diversity efforts is the wide range of flexible work policies, which aim to support employees in an array of life situations including military service, parenthood, and family caregiving. Ally provides adoption assistance and extended family care, which over 100 employees utilized in 2020.
Almost 300 Ally Financial employees took advantage of the company’s parental leave policies last year – 153 moms and 145 dads. Ally also provides impressive military leave policies including a commitment to “supplement pay for two-week reserve training and up to one year of pay for those in the reserve called to active military duty.” In fact, Ally Financial was nominated by an employee and member of the Arkansas Army National Guard as a Patriotic Employer through the Office of the Secretary of Defense.
As a result of these employee inclusivity programs, in 2020, Ally Financial was recognized by Women On Boards for having 20% or more of the executive board seats occupied by women. The company was also recognized by the Human Rights Campaign Corporate Equality Index as a top place to work.
Ally Financial’s commitment to Diversity & Inclusion begins with its CEO, Jeffrey Brown. Brown showed commitment to diversity by taking the CEO Action for Diversity and Inclusion Pledge. The pledge includes a commitment to answer complex questions on diversity in the workplace, share best practices for diversity and inclusion, and share strategic initiatives for diversity with company boards of directors. The goal of the pledge, as stated on the CEO Action for Diversity and Inclusion Pledge, website, is to “come together to make good on the inherent promise that all of our people should be able to bring their best selves to work and unleash their full potential.”
Hadley Roy studied economics and business at Hope College. She previously worked in strategy on the General Motors account and in GIS consulting for the automotive industry. She currently works in analytics and web development at the digital advertising agency MRM where she fields projects for a diverse array of large and small clients including automotive, non-profit, and green power companies.