At Ross Shopping Store, our people are the cornerstone of our values. We are deeply committed to cultivating inclusive teams and a company environment where the rich tapestry of backgrounds, identities, and perspectives of both our employees and customers is not only respected but actively celebrated. Through carefully designed policies, programs, and procedures, we diligently work to uphold a culture that champions inclusiveness, equality, and dignity across every facet of our organization and in each individual workplace. Throughout our extensive network of stores, efficient distribution centers, and corporate offices, we expect every Ross Associate to embody our unwavering commitment to inclusion in every interaction—be it with our valued customers, our trusted vendors, or our fellow team members.
Spearheading our daily initiatives in Diversity, Equality, and Inclusion (DE&I) is our dedicated Office of DE&I. This vital team is strategically supported by two key bodies: the DE&I Steering Committee and the DE&I Council. The DE&I Steering Committee, a testament to our top-down commitment, is co-chaired by our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Operating Officer. It comprises senior executives from across the company, all united in the mission to deeply integrate diversity, equality, and inclusion into the very fabric of our corporate culture and operational practices. Complementing this, the DE&I Council, led by our Group Vice President of Diversity, Equality, and Inclusion, brings together cross-functional senior leaders. This council is instrumental in developing and implementing functional action plans that directly support our overarching DE&I vision and strategic objectives.
Ross Shopping Store has long stood firm in its dedication to DE&I, and we have continuously amplified our efforts in this critical area. A significant milestone in our journey was achieved in 2023 when we proudly received a perfect score of 100 on the Human Rights Campaign Foundation’s Corporate Equality Index (CEI). This top rating reflects our exceptional performance in creating workplaces that are equitable and inclusive for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer employees.
This notable achievement is a direct result of the collective dedication and hard work of the Office of DE&I, the DE&I Steering Committee, the DE&I Council, our vibrant CommUnity Networks, and indeed, every Ross Associate. We are steadfast in our commitment to rolling out programs that reinforce equal career opportunities for all talented individuals, attract and retain a diverse workforce, enrich the sense of community and belonging for all Associates, and effectively communicate our DE&I priorities, events, and important observances.
2023 Employee Data
To provide transparency and demonstrate our progress, we share key employee data.
Total Company
| Category | Percentage |
|---|---|
| Women | 67% |
| People of Color | 72% |
In Management Positions
| Category | Percentage |
|---|---|
| Women | 56% |
| People of Color | 40% |
Management positions include supervisors and above.
For a comprehensive view, please refer to our full 2023 EEO-1 Report and our 2023 New Hire Report
Nurturing a Respectful Culture at Ross Shopping Store
At Ross Shopping Store, we are dedicated to fostering a workplace environment characterized by open and respectful communication, where conflicts are addressed promptly and with consideration, and where a strong culture of inclusion flourishes.
In line with this commitment, 2023 saw us further enhance our DE&I learning initiatives by providing comprehensive training programs across all organizational levels.
Associates actively participated in DE&I training delivered through various accessible formats, including e-learning modules and engaging instructor-led sessions. Ross Shopping Store carefully curates the training content to directly align with and support our specific DE&I goals. This year, we expanded the reach of our micro-learning resources—concise, impactful learning tools—to our field leaders. This expansion ensures that DE&I learning is increasingly accessible to them and their store teams, facilitating widespread engagement and understanding.
As part of our ongoing efforts to ensure we attract, recruit, and develop a diverse pool of talent, we also implemented specialized, experience-based DE&I training for all managers and above within Human Resources. Furthermore, we developed and standardized tools and training designed to mitigate potential unconscious bias in talent calibration and succession planning discussions. This proactive approach helps ensure fairness and equity in career advancement opportunities at Ross Shopping Store.
DE&I training is now a fundamental component of the onboarding process for all new Ross Associates and participants in our internship programs. We also provide mandatory biennial training on Ross’ Code of Business Conduct and Ethics, as well as non-harassment training for all full-time Associates. Building upon these foundational efforts, we continue to offer a wealth of on-demand learning resources and facilitated roundtable discussions covering a broad spectrum of DE&I topics, all readily available on our dedicated DE&I portal for Associates. This platform serves as a continuous learning hub, reinforcing our commitment to ongoing DE&I education and awareness.
Attracting and Retaining Diverse Talent at Ross Shopping Store
Our dedicated Talent Acquisition teams are continuously working to broaden our recruitment pipelines to attract and retain Associates from all walks of life and diverse backgrounds to Ross Shopping Store. We actively seek to recruit a wide array of talented individuals by strategically utilizing diverse sourcing channels such as Handshake, LinkedIn, Professional Diversity Network, and other specialized recruiting platforms known for reaching diverse candidate pools.
In 2023, Ross Shopping Store solidified and expanded our partnerships with Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) and key national organizations including Ascend, Fair360, HACE, Human Rights Campaign, MBA Veterans Network, National Black MBA Association, National Organization on Disability, NextUp, and Seramount. These strategic collaborations are invaluable, not only helping Ross identify a broad spectrum of prospective talent to enrich our workforce but also providing crucial information, content, and resources to support the professional development and advancement of our existing Associates.
We have implemented targeted programs that underscore our commitment to providing equal career opportunities for all talent, particularly within our internship program and entry-level positions at Ross Shopping Store. This includes partnering with organizations such as the Black Retail Action Group, collaborating closely with HBCUs, and actively participating in various diversity-focused recruitment initiatives with prominent organizations like the National Retail Federation and the Fashion Scholarship Fund. These efforts ensure that Ross Shopping Store remains a destination for diverse talent seeking to build successful careers in retail.
Image: The Ross BLAAC CommUnity Network logo, representing the Black and African American CommUnity at Ross Shopping Store.
Image: The Ross PRIDE CommUnity Network logo, symbolizing LGBTQ+ inclusion and support at Ross Shopping Store.
Image: The Ross InspirAsian CommUnity Network logo, celebrating Asian and Pacific Islander heritage and culture at Ross Shopping Store.
Image: The Ross LatinX Connect CommUnity Network logo, fostering a supportive community for Latinx employees at Ross Shopping Store.
Image: The Ross WIN (Women Inspired Network) CommUnity Network logo, dedicated to empowering women at Ross Shopping Store.
Image: The Ross VALOR CommUnity Network logo, honoring and supporting veterans and military personnel at Ross Shopping Store.
Strengthening Our CommUnity Networks at Ross Shopping Store
In 2023, Ross Shopping Store deepened our commitment to fostering a strong sense of community and belonging among all our Associates through our CommUnity Networks. These six company-recognized groups bring together Associates from various dimensions of diversity. They collaborate on activities that directly support the Company’s overarching DE&I vision and objectives, creating a more inclusive and engaging workplace. Membership is open to everyone, regardless of whether they personally identify with a group’s specific focus, promoting allyship and broad participation.
This year, an impressive over 45 percent of all eligible Ross Associates actively participated in one or more CommUnity Networks, demonstrating the widespread embrace of these initiatives. Led by dedicated leaders from across various business units, these Networks are instrumental in planning and executing actions that attract, develop, retain, and empower Ross Associates. They play a crucial role in shaping an increasingly inclusive environment at Ross Shopping Store by creating valuable networking opportunities, enhancing professional development through targeted education and mentoring programs, and amplifying the recognition of commemorative holidays and dates of cultural significance.
In 2023 alone, the Networks hosted a diverse range of impactful events. Highlights include a vibrant Lunar New Year celebration organized by the InspirAsian CommUnity Network, an insightful education session with PFLAG hosted by Ross PRIDE, a moving Veteran’s Day guest speaker event by the Military CommUnity Network (VALOR), a professional development workshop during National Hispanic Heritage Month by LatinX Connect, a meaningful day of service commemorating Martin Luther King Jr. organized by the Black/African American CommUnity (BLAAC) at Ross, and an inspiring leadership speaker series hosted by WIN @ Ross, the Women Inspired Network.
“InspirAsian is a great community to build a network of support and understanding. It fosters a sense of unity and solidarity. This CommUnity Network isn’t just about celebrating differences in Asian cultures—it’s about recognizing our shared humanity and building a more united, empathetic organization and society.”
— Ross Associate and CommUnity Network Member
Recognizing Diverse Holidays and Commemorative Events at Ross Shopping Store
Ross Shopping Store proudly highlighted a wide array of annual commemorative events and holidays in 2023, reflecting the rich diversity of our Associates and customer base. These observances included Black History Month, Women’s History Month and International Women’s Day, National Developmental Disabilities Month, Asian Pacific American Heritage Month, Pride Month, Juneteenth, National Hispanic Heritage Month, National Disability Employee Awareness Month, National Native American Heritage Month, Veterans Day, and many others.
Furthermore, every April, we actively observe Celebrate Diversity Month. This month-long initiative recognizes and honors the multifaceted diversity within our communities through both in-person events at our offices and engaging virtual activities, fostering a company-wide celebration of inclusion.
Throughout the year, these important observances are commemorated through various internal and external touchpoints. These include the distribution of historical facts, valuable educational resources, personal Associate stories, and a range of communications such as videos, in-store signage, and social media posts. Our CommUnity Networks frequently enhance these celebrations by hosting special events tied to these holidays and commemorative months, including insightful seminars, open discussions, networking events, and other engaging activities.
Ross Shopping Store also recognizes the importance of providing our Associates with dedicated time to honor the diverse holidays and events that hold personal significance for them. Diversity Day is offered as an additional paid day off for Corporate and Buying Office Associates. Whether it’s participating in a Juneteenth celebration, a Pride march, a religious observance, Veterans Day, or other personally meaningful holidays and events, eligible Associates can utilize their Diversity Day in a way that aligns with their individual values and beliefs.
Advancing Our Commitment to DE&I at Ross Shopping Store
Ross Shopping Store has made substantial progress in developing and implementing a comprehensive DE&I strategy. We are proud of our significant accomplishments in recruiting, developing, and retaining a more diverse workforce, expanding DE&I knowledge and training throughout our organization, strengthening our CommUnity Networks, and thoughtfully observing commemorative events to recognize and celebrate our rich diversity. In 2023, we successfully engaged more Associates in our DE&I efforts than ever before, demonstrating the growing impact and reach of our initiatives.
One key element of our engagement strategy is the DE&I Champions Program, active in our Stores and Distribution Centers. These DE&I Champions are passionate Associates who collaborate to advance our Company’s DE&I vision and objectives. They play a vital role in elevating key Company DE&I commemorative observances within Stores and Distribution Centers and fostering an environment of inclusion and community for everyone who works and shops at Ross.
While we are encouraged by the progress we have made on our DE&I journey, we recognize that there is always more to be done. Ross Shopping Store remains firmly committed to continuing our efforts to attract and retain diverse talent at all levels. Our future plans include further enhancing our training programs for Associates, strengthening and expanding our existing CommUnity Networks, and developing new mentoring initiatives to support career advancement for diverse employees. We are dedicated to continuously listening to and learning from our Associates and community partners to ensure our DE&I efforts are meaningful, impactful, and successful in creating a truly inclusive Ross Shopping Store for everyone.
“At Ross Shopping Store, we are dedicated to fostering an environment where everyone feels genuinely welcome and is empowered to succeed. Our Associates bring our values to life each day by celebrating our differences and through their meaningful efforts to champion equality and inclusion. This deep commitment is evident in everything we do—from nurturing a strong sense of belonging among our Associates to offering comprehensive inclusion training and building robust partnerships with a wide array of national organizations. I am incredibly proud of how far we have come on this journey and eagerly anticipate continuing to advance our DE&I initiatives.”
— Susan Gordon, Group Vice President, Diversity, Equality, and Inclusion
