Do you think DEI and Human Rights are different? Think again.

When you hear 'human rights,' you might think of protests or political prisoners. When you hear 'DEI,' maybe hiring quotas or sensitivity training come to mind. But look closer, and you'll see they're interconnected. At JTI, we're seeing how workplace DEI advances human rights - one policy, program and person at a time.

Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) is often seen as a workplace initiative, but it's much more than that – it's a human rights imperative. Both DEI and human rights share the same goal: ensuring dignity, respect and equality for all. Both push for change by challenging discrimination and standing up for underrepresented voices.

When we talk about human rights in the workplace, we’re really talking about creating spaces where everyone can thrive, free from discrimination – turning Articles 23 (equal pay) and 24 (rest & leisure) of the Declaration of Human Rights into everyday reality.

DEI at JTI: Actions speak louder

As an employer, we’re legally required to treat all employees equally. But we chose to go further. Treating everyone “the same” isn’t enough to drive the progress and change our company and the world need. In a year when DEI’s value has been questioned by many, we’ve reinforced our commitment.

We strongly believe in diversity of thought, background and experiences. This is why DEI is a priority for us, and we’re working to create an environment of acceptance, a culture that welcomes differences and a workplace that values every individual.

Over the past year, we've worked relentlessly to:

• Transform our culture: Our efforts earned us another Global Equality Standard certification in 2024, with scores improving by 15%. As 安永 noted, we've achieved a “crucial culture shift from a male-driven culture to one that’s inclusive, respectful, open-minded, and collaborative.”
• Guarantee equal pay: We're not just talking about pay equity - we're ensuring it. Our new assessment tool checks pay equity three times yearly across every market, making instant adjustments. This commitment earned us EY’s global Equal Pay Certification in 2024.
• Advance women in leadership: We've surpassed our 30% target for women in leadership positions. In traditionally conservative areas like Japan, the JT Group’s CEO has issued the first-ever corporate commitment to women’s advancement. And all our top 20 global leaders now sponsor senior women’s careers.
• Support future talent: Our “Grow She Can” STEM Women Internship Program creates real pathways in engineering and production. Our first cohort of 13 talented graduates are receiving dedicated mentoring and direct access to leadership through innovation workshops.
• Prioritize mental health: We've launched our first Mental Fitness Test, trained 500+ colleagues to become Mental Health First Aiders, and adapted support locally - from sleep education in Indonesia to targeted support for women employees in Ukraine.
• Empower employee voice: Our Employee Resource Groups covering LGBTIQ+, gender equality, race and ethnicity, and diversity of thought give employees safe spaces to share, learn, grow and thrive. 90% of our employees trust us enough to share their demographic data, helping us spot gaps and drive meaningful change.
• Lead by example: Eight C-suite leaders volunteer on our global DEI board, with 4 more sponsoring Employee Resource Groups.
• Create inclusive policies: Our Global Family Leave Policy offers 20 weeks of fully paid leave to all employees, with no gender or sexual orientation discrimination and no difference related to the way people became parents. We’ve established flexible working hours and hybrid work around the globe. And we also use AI to eliminate bias from job postings.
• Include people with disabilities: with our Global Framework for People with Disabilities, we aim to reaffirm our efforts in making the necessary workplace adjustments so that our people can thrive, as well as to empower our leaders to have meaningful conversations about disabilities.

DEI: A global commitment

As we celebrate Human Rights Day, it's important to recognize that DEI efforts within organizations are part of a larger, global commitment to human rights. Whether it's addressing gender equality in leadership, supporting the rights of LGBTIQ+ employees, or ensuring accessibility for people with disabilities, every step taken towards a more inclusive workplace mirrors the global fight for dignity and justice.

Check our DEI page for more information about our journey to advance human rights. There is still a lot more work to do, so if you want to be part of the journey and make a difference with us, visit our JTI Jobs section.

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