Culture

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) is rooted in the CalPERS culture, mission, vision, and core values of balance, openness, accountability, respect, integrity, and quality. We strive to reflect best practices in our culture to build mutually rewarding relationships that encourage collaboration and innovation. Our goal is to create a workplace where every team member feels valued, respected, and has a sense of belonging.

We consider cultivating a diverse team a vital initiative that brings competitive business advantage. The CalPERS Diversity Outreach Program (CDOP) is central to our efforts and is dedicated to fostering an inclusive environment and raising awareness about the value of diverse experiences, cultures, and abilities represented at CalPERS.

The CDOP team members developed, implemented, and participated in various initiatives to increase engagement of DEI throughout the organization.

Key Highlights

 

CDOP Facilitated Employee Resource Groups

CDOP supports and facilitates two Employee Resource Groups (ERGs), the CalPERS Diversity & Inclusion Group (CDIG) and the CalPERS Disability Advisory Committee (CDAC). Membership is comprised of team members from across the enterprise who actively engage in spreading awareness of DEI and disability topics in the workplace. Both groups work together to promote their missions and provide DEI education to the enterprise through a one-hour monthly meeting. An average of 62 attendees take part in these monthly meetings.

  • The CDIG aims to foster an inclusive environment where respect and openness bridge our ideas, experiences, perspectives, and cultures to enrich the professional development of its members and the CalPERS workplace. CDIG hosted educational events on women’s history, mental health, suicide prevention, autism awareness, and LGBTQ+.
    • CDIG Chair hosted a meet and greet for the ERG officers and CalPERS Board Member Lisa Middleton. This event provided ERG officers and CDOP team members the chance to get to know a board member.
  • The CDAC is dedicated to the inclusion and equality of employees with disabilities and to ensure an environment that is accessible to all employees, regardless of disability type.
    • CDAC was awarded the "2022 DAC of the Year" Award, by the Association of California State Employees with Disabilities and the State Disability Advisory Committee.

Philanthropy

CDOP in collaboration with CDIG and CDAC participated in many philanthropic activities.

  • Pioneer House: A skilled nursing facility that specializes in the care and rehabilitation of seniors recovering from a hospital stay
    • Delivered pies, apple cider, and 50 word-search books in honor of Thanksgiving
    • Gave more than $200 in donations, along with 100 bags of socks and toiletries in December 2022
  • Best Buddies Friendship Walk: Best Buddies International is the world's largest organization dedicated to empowering 200 million people with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
    • CalPERS team consisted of 31 members and raised $2,060.
    • CalPERS was awarded the Top Fundraising Corporate Team.
  • Angelman Syndrome Foundation Walk: The Angelman Syndrome Foundation (ASF) advances the awareness and treatment of Angelman Syndrome through education and information, research, and support. The ASF Walk is the foundation's largest fundraiser.
    • Four CalPERS team members participated in this event and raised $499.
  • Mustard Seed School: Free private school for unhoused children ages 3-15
    • Hosted a buy-one-feed-one campaign, where funds collected contributed to hot meals for the children

CDOP Training & Outreach

CDOP hosts events to raise awareness of DEI and facilitate an environment of collegiality, and high levels of productivity, engagement, and innovation. Additionally, CDOP designs and provides training and educational resources to develop inclusive team members and leaders who effectively and successfully work within a diverse workplace and marketplace.

  • Pride, Pronouns, and Progress – A Lunch-and-Learn Event: Chase Saunders, the Prevention & Education manager at WEAVE, provided a presentation called "Pride, Pronouns, and Progress," explaining what gender is, why it matters, how to use pronouns correctly, and how to create a more inclusive work environment.
    • 57 team members attended the lunch and learn, and 87% of survey respondents reported the session helped them understand how to treat all people with respect and dignity at work.
  • All Team Speaker Event: Paul Epstein, an expert in leadership and organizational culture with almost 15 years of experience as a professional sports executive, spoke at two 75-minute sessions called "Building Culture Through the Power of Playing Offense." These sessions provided best practices for building trust, empathy, human connection, and belonging.
    • 486 team members attended.
    • 91.43% of survey respondents rated the event as excellent or good.
    • 84.76% of survey respondents agreed or strongly agreed the session helped them understand the importance of building a culture of belonging.
  • DEI Roadshow: CDOP, in partnership with the DEI Office, CDIG, and CDAC, offered internal DEI consultations and presentations in a roadshow format. They presented to six divisions, reaching 484 team members.
  • Color Lingo: This workshop provides an opportunity to understand and appreciate the differences of their team leaders and members. The training builds team cohesiveness, reduces conflicts, and helps teams solve problems through collaborative and team-building activities.
    • 144 CalPERS team members participated in 900 total hours of Color Lingo training.
    • 93.76% of post-workshop survey respondents agreed or strongly agreed that Color Lingo helped foster an environment that values differences and contributions.
  • LGBTQ+ and Gender Identity Topics in the Workplace: When employees feel they must hide who they are at work, it dampens productivity, engagement, morale, and retention. It also reveals broader challenges of full inclusion in the workplace. This workshop identifies key topics and cultural competencies for team members to confidently foster a truly inclusive environment.
    • This workshop was piloted and implemented with 45 leaders taking the training.
    • Approximately 90% of post-workshop survey respondents agreed or strongly agreed that the workshop helped them understand how to treat all team members with respect and dignity at work.
  • Learning About Invisible Disabilities in the Workplace: When it comes to creating an inclusive workplace culture, invisible disabilities are often overlooked. This course teaches leaders what invisible disabilities are, how they affect employees, and what leadership can do to increase empathy and support toward those with hidden disabilities. Leaders gain knowledge and tools to effectively identify and manage challenges, build confidence to foster a truly inclusive environment, and better understand their responsibilities as leaders relating to invisible disabilities in the workplace.
    • This workshop had 24 participants.
    • 96% of post-workshop survey respondents agreed or strongly agreed that the workshop fosters a work environment that values differences and contributions.
  • DEI Certificate Program: CDOP designed and piloted a DEI Certificate Program to increase the capacity of team members, at all levels, to demonstrate CalPERS Core Competencies in carrying out work that supports the CalPERS mission, vision, and DEI Framework.

Communication & Outreach

CDOP, in collaboration with the CalPERS Office of Public Affairs (PAOF), worked on several communication and outreach efforts throughout the year.

  • Café Menu Collaboration: CDOP collaborated with the CalPERS Café to promote monthly cultural meals.
  • Change in Veterans Status Survey and Change in Disability Status Campaign: CDOP worked with PAOF and the Equal Employment Opportunity Program (EEO) to develop a campaign to encourage veterans and persons with disabilities to complete the annual change in status surveys.
  • DEI Calendar: Each month, CDOP developed communication deliverables to raise awareness on various DEI observances and holidays. These include monthly emails, intranet content, and CEO messages.

Accessibility

CalPERS is committed to inclusion and access to information for all. This means we aim to provide content and information that can be accessed by any individual, regardless of a person's ability.

  • CalPERS has an Accessibility Compliance Team (ACT) that functions as a multi-disciplinary source of digital accessibility subject matter expertise for the organization.
  • Furthering CalPERS' commitment to making our websites accessible to all visitors, including those with vision loss, hearing loss, limited manual dexterity, and cognitive disabilities, the Accessibility Compliance Team certified the CalPERS website for compliance with applicable state and federal laws and Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.1 AA. This certification fulfills a biennial requirement per California Government Code section 11546.7 (Assembly Bill 434).
  • CalPERS recognized the 12th annual Global Accessibility Awareness Day (GAAD) to impart what digital accessibility means to us, both as public servants and as inclusive members of society. Approximately 400 team members attended an enterprise guest speaker event, "The Importance of Accessibility and Disability Inclusion," led by accessibility subject matter expert Sheri Byrne-Haber. The event highlighted the importance of delivering accessible content to our members and stakeholders.

  • Next Section: Talent Management 

Charting Progress on Our Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Journey