Diversity and inclusion is discussed regularly in human resources circles.  In most instances, issues of pay equity, gender equality and ethnicity are debated.  And companies believed to not be embracing these dimensions of diversity, among others, often face public criticism and, sometimes, lawsuits.  Such is the case with Google.  An employee has filed a lawsuit against the company alleging pay equity and retaliation crimes.  Also topping HR News headlines this week, Walmart adds low cost education opportunities in healthcare and a Toyota HR executive wants to evolve mobility in the future workplace.

HR News

Google Engineer Sues Company Alleging Retaliation and Discrimination Crimes

A female Google engineer says she is being paid less than her male co-workers, and when she complained about it, she alleges the company retaliated against her.  According to court documents, Ulku Rowe filed the lawsuit on September 17.  Rowe states in those documents that she played an important role in developing Google Cloud’s financial services.  She also states she was hired for less pay than male counterparts and that she was not promoted to a role for which she was the most-qualified candidate.  Afterward, Rowe complained to HR and says she was moved to a position offering very few opportunities for development.

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Walmart Adds Healthcare to Live Better U’s College Offering

Walmart says it has expanded its education benefit program by offering employees education programs in health-related fields.  For $1 a day, the company’s 1.5 million workers may apply for a BA degree from Purdue University Global, Southern New Hampshire University, Bellevue University and Wilmington University in the areas of health science, health and wellness and healthcare management/administration.  The programs are offered through Walmart’s internal university, Live Better U.  In addition, employees may also seek career diplomas for pharmacy technicians and opticians through Penn Foster. 

In a press release from the company, Walmart SVP of Associate Experience Drew Holler discusses the program.

“Walmart aims to be the market leader in providing retail workers a path to careers in growing fields like healthcare.  We don’t know of any other retailer in America that has a program that allows its associates the opportunity to achieve a degree in healthcare that can translate into a higher-paying job within the company or in the broader field.”

The new offerings will help train employees to fill healthcare positions throughout the company and Sam’s Club.  Those positions include at Walmart’s new health center in Georgia, plus more than 5,000 retail pharmacies, 400 hearing centers and 3,000 vision centers.

“Our presence in thousands of communities gives us a unique opportunity to provide access to affordable healthcare to millions of people, and we need trained associates in order to do so,” said Thomas Van Gilder, Chief Medical Officer at Walmart. “As our health and wellness strategy and offerings continue to evolve, Live Better U will play a critical role in preparing our associates across the country for future work opportunities in the growing healthcare field.”

Toyota HR Exec Seeks to Evolve Workplace for Future Mobility

Toyota North America vice president of Human Transformation & Strategy Terri Von Lehmden says mobility is the future of her industry.  With the ongoing labor shortage and other issues, Lehmden sees passion around the industry diminishing.  That’s why she is advocating for “new approaches to hiring, bringing more women into the fold and using alternative tools” to attract new talent.  In the WardsAuto article, she says 74% of U.S. workers, according to PwC, do not think they are achieving their potential and crave development.

“When you drive that idea of investing, and a willingness to skill up and develop your folks, you’re reaching a different level of engagement, which is going to drive not only loyalty but also spark passion,” Von Lehmden says.

Read the article here.

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