武田薬品工業株式会社
Takeda Recognized for the Second Consecutive Year as one of the most LGBTQ+ Friendly Companies in Japan, Achieving Gold Status, the Highest Ranking, in the 2022 Pride Index
- Awarded Gold status (the highest rating) after meeting all five PRIDE Index evaluation indicators
- Gold status awarded in recognition of Takeda’s progress around LGBTQ+ inclusion in Japan, as part of Takeda’s Global Diversity, Equity & Inclusion (DE&I) Ambition
OSAKA, Japan, November 11, 2022 – Takeda Pharmaceutical Company Limited (TSE:4502/NYSE:TAK) (“Takeda”) today announced that the company has been awarded the highest rating of Gold in the 2022 PRIDE Index established by work with Pride (wwP), an organization that promotes LGBTQ+ diversity management in Japanese companies and organizations. The award recognizes Takeda’s comprehensive efforts to continue to create a workplace where LGBTQ+ (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer and the entire rainbow community) employees feel a sense of belonging as part of Takeda’s Diversity, Equity & Inclusion (DE&I) Ambitions.
The PRIDE Index measures progress and initiatives that companies and organizations can implement with respect to LGBTQ+ inclusion across five categories: declarations of action (anti-discrimination policies, etc.), community engagement, awareness-raising activities (development, training, etc.), personnel systems and programs (benefits, etc.), and social contribution and external relations activities (external partnerships, etc.). The five evaluation indicators represent the letters of ‘PRIDE’: Policy, Representation, Inspiration, Development and Engagement/Empowerment. Takeda has been recognized as a Gold company for the second year in a row, for meeting all five criteria categories.
Some initiatives that led to the award in Japan included the following;
"Receiving this recognition, a second year in a row, is a testament to the continuing efforts that many groups at Takeda, including the Pride Japan resource group, is doing to intentionally support diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts. Our Takeda values drive everything from our commitment to those that we serve, and to our 50,000+ people that help us operate with integrity and holding us accountable to our commitments. Creating an environment where our people truly feel a sense of belonging, where all voices have a chance to be heard is at the center of DE&I Ambition. We are proud to be recognized with Gold status in the PRIDE Index and see this recognition as a nod to the fact that our efforts are sustainable”, Hayden Majajas, Head of Global DE&I, based out of the Tokyo Global Headquarters Office at Takeda.
In Japan the Takeda employee resource group, TAKE PRIDE, together with the LGBTQ+ employee resource groups at GlaxoSmithKline K.K., Eli Lilly Japan K.K., and Novartis Pharma K.K., are working to promote DE&I across the industry. Collectively, the group has outlined their vision, which reads:
In October of this year, the collective invited Dr. Eriko Yoshida from Nijiro Doctors, a general incorporated association, to give a joint lecture titled "LGBTQ + in the Medical Field: Responses and Issues, Current Initiatives and the Future." This event garnered attendance by well over 500 employees from all four companies, a major feat for an event such as this.
Takeda strives to create an environment in which employees can grow and demonstrate their full potential by providing fair and equitable opportunities for employment, promotion, mobility, compensation, and training regardless of an individual's gender, age, nationality, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, or any other dimensions of diversity. By recognizing strength in difference and through a culture of respect, we are able to provide a safe and engaging workplace free from discrimination for all.
Takeda respects diversity in all its forms including sexual orientation and gender identity (SOGI) and is taking steps to ensure we continue to foster a sense of belonging; where our people have a voice; they feel they are heard; and a sense of psychological safety. In meeting this ambition for our LGBTQ+ people, we have installed accessible restrooms that can be used by all employees and our guests, regardless of gender, gender expression or gender identity at our global headquarters in Tokyo and our Osaka headquarters. In addition, we continue to promote a deeper understanding of LGBTQ+ inclusion by intentionally including LGBTQ+ topics in DE&I development programs globally and in Japan. Furthermore, we also continue to develop harassment and anti-harassment awareness workshops of SOGI in Japan, to continue to foster a workplace where all our people can continue their learning journey on related DE&I topics and feel supported by Takeda on matters that affect them directly and or are important to them.
Specifically, in the case of paid family support leave*, Takeda’s definition of ‘family’ includes same-sex partners, and the system allows employees to apply for such leave without being required to submit certification. In addition, we have established an anonymous consultation service, as well as a support point of contact within the company from the Human Resources Department and other relevant departments, so that we can respond to requests and other employee related issues on an individual basis.
* Paid leave that can be used when an employee requires time off to support family members, such as for nursing care, childcare, care of a family member or participation in children's school events.
About “PRIDE Index"
The PRIDE Index was developed by wwP in 2016 as Japan's first evaluation index for LGBTQ+ related corporate and other initiatives, with the aim of realizing a workplace where LGBTQ+ people can work with pride. For more information about the PRIDE Index, please refer to the official website.
https://workwithpride.jp/pride-i/
Takeda Pharmaceutical Company Limited (TSE: 4502/NYSE: TAK) is a global, values-based, R&D-driven biopharmaceutical leader headquartered in Japan, committed to discover and deliver life-transforming treatments, guided by our commitment to patients, our people and the planet. Takeda focuses its R&D efforts on four therapeutic areas: Oncology, Rare Genetics and Hematology, Neuroscience, and Gastroenterology (GI). We also make targeted R&D investments in Plasma-Derived Therapies and Vaccines. We are focusing on developing highly innovative medicines that contribute to making a difference in people’s lives by advancing the frontier of new treatment options and leveraging our enhanced collaborative R&D engine and capabilities to create a robust, modality-diverse pipeline. Our employees are committed to improving quality of life for patients and to working with our partners in health care in approximately 80 countries and regions. For more information, visit https://www.takeda.com.
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