Justworks- Sales Diversity and Inclusivity Initiative of the Year

Company: Justworks, New York, NY, USA
Entry Submitted By: ValueSelling Associates, Rancho Santa Fe, CA
Company Description: ValueSelling Associates equips B2B sales professionals to compete on value, not price, using a time-tested methodology with proven results. Our expert Associates create custom sales improvement training delivered globally in over 17 languages. With ValueSelling, sales professionals get the tools, skills and processes to effectively qualify, advance and close more sales with higher margins.
Nomination Category: Sales Awards Achievement Categories
Nomination Sub Category: Sales Diversity and Inclusivity Initiative of the Year

Nomination Title: Justworks

In 2012, Isaac Oates, Founder & CEO, began pursuing his vision of lifting the administrative and compliance burden from employers so small business owners could focus on what matters most – serving customers and empowering teams. Less than a decade later, Justworks is the fastest growing HR technology company in the country.

Justworks envisions a world in which starting, running, and joining a business is accessible for all. Through Justworks’ simple, friendly platform and expert support, business owners have access to corporate-level benefits and can offload the nitty-gritty details of payroll, benefits, compliance, and HR.

In 2019, Justworks earned accreditation through the Employer Services Assurance Corporation (ESAC), joining an elite group of professional employer organizations (PEOs) who meet the highest requirements for financial stability, ethical business conduct, and adherence to operational standards and regulatory requirements.

What makes Justworks unique is its “real” approach, staying extremely accessible and transparent to its customers. What makes it special as an organization is its unwavering commitment to Diversity, Equity & Inclusion (DEI) initiatives. It’s been an ongoing conversation since inception – an ethos that permeates from executive leadership to the sales organization, from existing employees to the pool of candidates being considered for hire.

Outline the team’s achievements since July 1, 2019 that you wish to bring to the judges’ attention (up to 250 words = 247).

Michelle Festa, Senior Manager of Sales Training & Enablement, oversees sales training initiatives. It was critical that the sales organization see themselves reflected in the sales trainers, but Michelle was having difficulty finding a vendor who could offer a sales methodology through a DEI (Diversity, Equity & Inclusion) lens.

Michelle met Chad Sanderson, Managing Partner at ValueSelling Associates, and thought it’d be a good match. Indeed, the ValueSelling team of facilitators, content, and eLearning modules presented a mix of gender, ethnicity, countries, and even tattoos.

Justworks fosters an environment where employees can “come as they are.” DEI initiatives include a series of anti-racist trainings, monthly short film and debrief on DEI topics, and weekly meditation classes geared toward how to address inequities and injustices in the world.

To ensure the pipeline of candidates looks like the mix of people in New York City, Justworks seeks a diverse candidate pool, working with the internal recruiting team, outside recruiting agencies and employee referrals. It's also important to hire people who buy-in to the diversity initiatives, candidates are interviewed about their perspective on Diversity, Equity & Inclusion.

Mike Albo, Director of Sales, has spearheaded a mentorship program for Black, Indigenous, and people of color. Once fully rolled out, these sales team members will be mentored by sales leadership on both career and personal development.

Explain why the achievements you have highlighted are unique or significant. If possible compare the achievements to the performance of other players in your industry and/or to the individual’s past performance (up to 250 words = 248).

In support of the protests surrounding George Floyd’s death, Justworks put out a statement which received both praise and backlash from customers, partners, and prospects, who said, “Your competitors would never take a stance like this.” As the fastest growing PEO, Justworks wants to work with people who believe in the same vision.

Mike Albo said, “I know we have more work to do and we’re at the tip of the iceberg in terms of what we’re capable of. It’s the people in our organization and around the world that deserve the recognition.”

Michelle adds, “The people at Justworks have been vulnerable enough to stand up and say, ‘This is the kind of place I want to work at.’ Our leaders, DEI team, DEI Council and Justworkers are cultivating an environment where every person has a voice. I’m so proud that as a company, we’re willing to learn and grow together.”

DEI is not a buzz word or acronym at Justworks. It’s part of quarterly key metrics. It’s part of a consistent message. It’s part of the company’s values. Justworks was closed on Juneteenth so people could celebrate, protest, or just take time off to rest.

Reference any attachments of supporting materials throughout this nomination and how they provide evidence of the claims you have made in this nomination (up to 250 words).

DEI webpage with Employee Resource Groups (ERGs)/DEI efforts: https://justworks.com/diversity-equity-inclusion

Video: Why we love what we do.

Video: Sharing our stories for Black History Month 2020

Video: Be Proud. Be You.

Video: Ageism in the workplace is real. Let’s talk about it.

Article: These 7 NYC Tech Companies Champion Diversity. Here’s How.

Article: Leading an employee resource group is like a second job. Now, one start-up is paying for that work.