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Sustainability Global inclusion

Global inclusion

Our commitment

Fostering a culture that empowers our employees and demands the best of our leadership by attracting and retaining great talent and fostering innovation while building a more inclusive, diverse, and engaged workforce and providing clear pathways for development, growth, and mobility.

Our goals

  • Reach at least an 80% Global People Inclusion Index (GPII) score annually, encompassing authenticity, learning new things, sharing perspectives, and feeling valued and respected.
  • Score 100% on the U.S. Diversity Index annually, consisting of measures that include hiring, promotion, and turnover rates for diverse individuals as well as inclusion-related learning opportunities and events.
  • Measure employee satisfaction across our global workforce annually, with a target to reach a score of 79% on our Engagement Index in 2023.

Our work supports the following UN Sustainable Development Goals:

Goal 5: Gender equality Goal 8: Decent work and economic growth Goal 10: Reduced inequalities
Picture of a woman teaching a class

Employee engagement index

Graph showing our employee engagement index from 2018 to 2022, in 2022 it is 78%.

Employee engagement

Transparent communication produced a surge in trust and dedication amid the pandemic.

2022 Global People Inclusion Index (GPII)

Graph showing our global people inclusion index percentages

Inclusivity in the workplace

We are building a more inclusive workforce, knowing that this will help us attract talent, increase employee engagement, and develop the next generation of leaders.

Annually, our goal is to reach a GPII score of 80% or above. Our GPII measures culture of learning and trying new things.

Diversity in leadership

Principal has a long-standing commitment to diversity and inclusion: Principal added our first female board member almost 50 years ago, and we’ve had minorities on our board for more than 20 years. Our longest-serving female board member joined in 1992.

62%

of our Board members are diverse in their gender, race, or national origin

54%

of our workforce are women

50%

growth rate of our U.S. people of color over the last 5 years

Executive Inclusion Council

Our commitment to diversity and inclusion starts at the top. Dan Houston, our chairman, president and CEO, serves as sponsor of our Executive Inclusion Council. This team, comprised of cross-functional business leaders, are the guardians of our global inclusion strategy. Principal senior management and Human Resources Committee of the Board of Directors make diversity and inclusion a priority and are updated regularly on our progress.

In our business practices

At Principal, we prioritize diversity, equity, and inclusion, and shared values-seeking to create a thriving environment of authenticity, action, and accountability within our company and our communities. We are united in our stance against discrimination, hate, and violence understanding immediate and lasting effects created by these destructive behaviors on our employees, our customers, and our communities.

Our focus on diversity and inclusion is central to how we operate as a global company with a purpose of helping more people achieve financial security throughout their lives. Our specific measures include:

Accessible financial products

We provide affordable and user-friendly products and services to people from many backgrounds. We seek ways to broaden the accessibility of financial products through research, product design, and distribution pathways.

Supplier diversity program

Principal actively supports and facilitates the purchase of products and services from businesses owned or operated by individuals representing varied demographics. Our goal is to source at least 5.8% of eligible spend in the U.S. from diverse suppliers, amounting to $53.2 million through tier one and tier two spending. Learn more about our supplier diversity program.

Our sustainable sourcing efforts support our work in supplier diversity. Learn more about our sustainable sourcing practices.

Inclusive marketing practices

We work to ensure that all customers see themselves in our marketing materials, feel that Principal aligns with their values, and feel empowered to pursue their personal and professional goals.

Digital innovation

We’ve developed products, mobile apps, websites, and more, to help us reach millions of people, including populations in typically underserved customer groups and in developing or emerging markets.

Photo of woman sitting at a table

Inclusive talent practices

Principal also has a longstanding relationship with the Iowa office of Jobs for America’s Graduates network (iJAG). iJAG’s mission is to provide support, skill development, and opportunities for underrepresented students at the highest risk of disengaging from school. Employees at all levels and areas of the organization participate as trainers, guest speakers, and mentors at schools across Iowa. Our employees volunteer to meet with students and teach resume building, college and career optioning, interview skills, and financial literacy.

2022 Sustainability report

Read more about our commitment to sustainability.

Download full report (PDF)

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