CAREERS: DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION

At Sara Lee, we operate in a global and multi-cultural marketplace. Therefore, we believe that having a workforce comprised of people from different backgrounds and life perspectives can lead to better customer and consumer insights, greater innovation and a more inclusive environment for our employees.

Such an inclusive environment embodies who we are. In fact, Be Inclusive is one of our core values and helping to create that environment is the responsibility of every employee.

Diversity is central to the “multi-local, multinational” nature of our business. As a global organization, we have incredibly diverse consumers. We aim to have a workforce as diverse as our consumers. We do not, however, assess our performance solely in terms of “physical diversity” – differences like gender, nationality, race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, etc. Rather our focus is on building an inclusive culture, ensuring that everyone feels that they are valued, belong and can make a difference.

We are working to ensure our customers, consumers, suppliers and employees view Sara Lee and our brands as diverse and reflective of the multi-cultural world in which we live: helping to achieve our vision to be the first choice of customers and consumers around the world.

Delivering on our Diversity and Inclusion mission:
Sara Lee defines diversity as a key business strategy that values and embraces differences – and leverages them to achieve business objectives. We are working to execute a holistic approach that meets the business requirements and expectations of all our customers, consumers, employees, suppliers and shareholders. Our Diversity & Inclusion strategy consists of five core elements:

1. Workforce
   •  Mirror our markets
   •  Attract, develop and retain the best talent
   •  Define diversity beyond the core “physical” dimensions of race, gender, etc.
   
   
2. Work Environment
   •  Enhance our work environment through excellent communication and work/life balance 
      and integration opportunities
   •  Provide meaningful development experiences for our employees
   •  Make Diversity and Inclusion an integral part of Continuous Improvement
   
   
3. Supplier Diversity
   •  Purchase and partner with those vendors that demonstrate their own commitment to
      diversity and inclusion
   
   
4. Multi-cultural Marketing
   •  Better serve existing markets through increased emphasis on multi-cultural marketing
   •  Identify new markets
   •  Produce innovation through Sara Lee cross-segment and cross boundary
       collaborations
   
   
5. Community Outreach
   •  Extend support to the markets and communities that are loyal to Sara Lee
   •  Strategically align with partnering organizations to bring about positive impact in the
      communities where we operate and where our products our sold

How we are structured to support Diversity and Inclusion:

• Sara Lee’s board of directors and senior management team ensure the integration of diversity and inclusion into business vision sessions and planning by setting policy, monitoring strategy and holding leadership accountable.
  
  
• Senior leadership and the global Diversity & Inclusion office set strategy, priorities, and monitor plans and progress. This includes corporate and business segment leaders who have direct oversight of specific diversity and inclusion related objectives and business imperatives.
  
  
• Senior management, diversity councils, employee or affinity groups (U.S.-specific) and the corporate Diversity & Inclusion office execute the strategy.