Our Business Case for Diversity

Diversity Works for Everyone

The world is changing. Between now and the year 2050, we are in the midst of some of the most profound changes ever in the workforce due to demographic shifts, including:

• Projected entrants into the workforce by 2016 will be 70% women and/or Black and Hispanic/Latino

• Baby Boomers and GenXers will no longer represent nearly half of the workforce

• Increased participation of women in the global workforce

• Black, Asian and Hispanic/Latino household income is rising at twice the rate of other U.S. households, creating new opportunities for market growth

The ability to penetrate these markets in more culturally-relevant ways will increase affinity with the Sherwin-Williams’ family of brands and thus increase the demand for our products.

Sherwin-Williams is positioned to address these changes and the increased demand for our products with initiatives designed to meet the needs of our customers:

• Recruitment Efforts: Continue to focus on bringing more diverse talent into the Sherwin-Williams family

• Retention: Employee engagement and benefit programs designed to sustain our high retention rates

• Learning and Development Programs: Provide support as emerging talent rises through the ranks to hold leadership positions in our company

We're on a Mission...
Our Mission to embrace Diversity and Inclusion is important to...

Our Customers
As the demand for our products increases globally we will experience even more diversity in our customer base. We are positioned to employ different approaches to how we go to market.  Having diversity throughout our Company provides insights that can be leveraged to increase the success of our marketing efforts by connecting with our customers on a deeper, more culturally-relevant level. These insights give us the ability to increase market share and brand affinity  among our diverse customers.

Our Employees
A diverse workforce creates an environment that leads to a more creative, innovative approach to business. This atmosphere also provides a wider range of solutions, based on differing cultural and life experiences, in every area of the business.

Our Shareholders
Diversity in our product offerings and employee, supplier, and customer base has a positive impact on our profits. Further, an inclusive environment translates into higher employee engagement, continuous improvement, and positive performance, which drives results.

Our Suppliers
Sherwin-Williams recognizes that how we operate our Company has an impact on the economic development of the communities in which we live and work. We believe that success is achieved through a diverse group of people working together to find the best solutions, and we are committed to providing access to potential business opportunities for qualified minority, women-owned and small businesses. Our goal is to create a supplier base that exemplifies inclusion and represents the diversity of our employees, customers and community.

Our Community
Our community engagement efforts help us to better understand and address the needs of the diverse communities in which we operate. Corporate philanthropy is vital to Sherwin-Williams, and we embrace the opportunity to work within those communities.

Our Guiding Values
The guiding values of our Company are at the heart of our “Culture of Excellence.” Like a compass, they set a direction for how we carry out our responsibilities to one another, to our customers, to the communities we are a part of, and to our shareholders.

• Integrity
• People
• Service
• Quality
• Performance
• Innovation
• Growth