Baxter believes that an inclusive culture and a diverse workforce can drive innovation; create trusted partnerships with customers, suppliers and community partners; and contribute to business success.

Beyond building a globally diverse organization of individuals from various backgrounds, perspectives and experiences, Baxter is committed to fostering an inclusive culture where differences are valued and respected. The company partners with organizations that embrace inclusion, including those involved in Baxter’s philanthropic and volunteerism efforts. Working with diverse suppliers is also integral to the company’s inclusion strategy.

Global Inclusion Council

In 2008, Baxter established a Global Inclusion Council, composed of leaders from across the company. The Council provides thought leadership, guidance and support to implement Baxter’s global inclusion strategy. In 2008, the Council created internal awareness of the inclusion strategy, enhanced crosscultural awareness of Council leaders, and assessed best practices. The Council also identified new opportunities to further the strategy in 2009 and beyond.

Employee Feedback

In 2008, Baxter conducted 17 employee roundtables involving 200 randomly selected employees from 28 countries. Members of executive management facilitated these sessions, designed to improve understanding of local and organization-wide diversity and inclusion challenges, opportunities and perspectives. In 2009, Baxter will use feedback from the roundtables coupled with employee perspectives from the company’s 2009 Culture Survey to help shape future inclusion efforts that will focus on training and education.

Supplier Diversity

Baxter strives to develop mutually beneficial relationships with small and diverse suppliers, given the importance these suppliers have to the company and to the communities where Baxter employees live and work. In 2008, the company spent approximately $457 million with small businesses in the United States and Puerto Rico, 17 percent of Baxter’s supplier spending in those markets. The company spent $88 million with women-owned businesses and $24 million with minority-owned firms in those locations.

2015 GOAL

  • Create and sustain an inclusive culture where diverse ideas, backgrounds, experiences and perspectives are respected and valued.

Baxter Chairman and CEO Robert L. Parkinson, Jr. speaks with students and administrators at Howard University about leadership, being a great company and diversity and inclusion.