IKEA Canada has been recognized on Forbes’ list of Canada’s Best Employers for Diversity for the third year in a row.
The award, presented by Forbes in collaboration with Statista, highlights companies leading in diversity and inclusion across various dimensions, including age, gender equality, ethnicity, disability, and the 2SLGBTQ+ community.
“At IKEA, our vision is to create a better everyday life for the many people, and this starts with our co-workers,” said John Williams, EDI Leader at IKEA Canada. “Being recognized on Forbes’ list for the third year in a row is not only an honour but a testament to IKEA Canada’s unwavering commitment to creating an inclusive workplace that celebrates diversity in all its forms.”
What IKEA did
IKEA Canada has implemented several key initiatives to achieve this recognition. The company’s Equality Plan focuses on gender balance, with 51% of its managers and 52% of its co-workers being female. In 2022, IKEA Canada launched Co-worker Resource Groups (CRGs) to foster an inclusive culture, particularly supporting BIPOC and 2SLGBTQI+ employees.
Furthering its commitment to social inclusion, IKEA Canada has also evolved its Indigenous Reconciliation plan and celebrates various EDI Days of Significance, such as Black History Month, Asian Heritage Month, and National Indigenous History Month.
Since 2018, the company has recognized the International Day Against Homophobia, Biphobia, and Transphobia by raising the Pride Progress flag at its stores and donating proceeds from specific product sales to 2SLGBTQI+ organizations, raising over $250,000 to date.
IKEA Canada recently launched a Disability Action Plan to build more diverse teams and create an inclusive environment for all employees. The company’s efforts also include the Ingka Includes survey, which gathers feedback from employees to identify areas for improvement in ethnic and cultural diversity at leadership levels.
Leadership training
Leadership training at IKEA Canada incorporates the DECIDE initiative, which addresses bias in decision-making, and the Intentions to Actions Leaders training, aimed at bridging the gap between intentions and actions in promoting equality, diversity, and inclusion.
Globally, IKEA has updated its Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Plan, enhancing its focus on gender equality beyond the binary, reflecting societal ethnic diversity in management, and improving accessibility for employees with disabilities.
Founded in 1943 in Sweden, IKEA is a home furnishing retailer, operating 16 stores in Canada. Last year, IKEA Canada welcomed 28 million visitors to its stores and 166 million visitors to IKEA.ca.