Global inclusion

We strive to create and maintain a work environment where all employees feel valued, respected, and included, enabling them to do their best work.

2023 Global Inclusion Report:

Download full report (PDF)

2023 Global Inclusion Overview:

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Principal employee Micah Greene, an Air National Guard member

We believe that a culture of inclusion is foundational to who we are, the change we have driven, and the future we are creating. That’s why we are building a workplace of diverse perspectives, backgrounds, and experiences and promoting equitable practices.

Our global inclusion strategy is underpinned by three pillars:

In our workplace: We’re committed to nurturing an inclusive culture and diverse workforce based on the highest ethical standards, and a dedication to equity, fairness, respect, integrity, and trust.
In our business practices: Our focus on inclusion is central to how we operate as a global company with the purpose of helping more people build a bright future. We strive to implement business practices that serve a wide-ranging customer base, broaden accessibility to inclusive products and services, and incorporate diverse suppliers in our supply chain.
In our communities: Principal, together with Principal^® Foundation is giving back to and strengthening the communities in which we operate.

2023 Global People Inclusion Index (GPII)

Graph showing our global people inclusion index percentages

Global inclusion initiatives

At Principal, we prioritize diversity, equity, and inclusion, and shared values-seeking to create a thriving environment of authenticity, action, and accountability within our company and our communities. We are united in our stance against discrimination, hate, and violence understanding immediate and lasting effects created by these destructive behaviors on our employees, our customers, and our communities.

Our focus on diversity and inclusion is central to how we operate as a global company with a purpose of helping more people achieve financial security throughout their lives.

Inclusion Summit:

In conjunction with the CEO Action for Diversity and Inclusion pledge, we host an annual Inclusion Summit, providing opportunities for all employees around the world to learn, connect, and grow through conversation and education on our internal diversity, equity, and inclusion programs.

Employee resource groups (ERGs):

Our fourteen ERGs and seven networks help create an inclusive and welcoming environment for employees across our global organization. They facilitate social/cultural learning and personal and professional development, and connect to our employees and business through programming, events, and initiatives. Each ERG is sponsored by a member of senior management and establishes annual goals aligned with the global inclusion and business strategies.

Global mentorship:

Our Global Mentorships Program offers a development opportunity to all Principal employees by cultivating formal mentoring relationships. Each fall we enroll participants from across the organization, find strong matches, and support mentoring pairs as they connect with each other over an eight-month structured experience around specific goals. We also have mentoring opportunities within specific business units and locations such as the Retirement and Income Solution Own What’s Next mentoring program and our Women in Latin America mentoring program.

Learning and development:

We’ve implemented NeuroLeadership Institute’s INCLUDE and DECIDE training, equipping employees and leaders to identify and mitigate bias, and lead more inclusively.

Equitable practices:

Pay equity is central to our compensation practices and policies. We conduct an annual pay audit with a credible third party to identify unexplained differences in pay between employees doing similar work in commensurate positions. On a global level, our pay audit includes a gender pay gap assessment, and in the U.S., our pay audit includes both a gender and a racial pay gap assessment.

Awards and recognition:

Scored 100 out of 100 on the Disability Equal Index (DEI) for our disability inclusion efforts (Disability:IN, July 2023)
Recognized as one of The Best Employers for Women 2023 (Forbes, July 2023)
Earned 90% on the Human Rights Campaign Foundation's 2023 Corporate Equality Index

Recognized as a 2024 Military Friendly Employer (Military Friendly, November 2023)
Named a 50 Out Front: Best Place to Work for Women and Diverse Managers (Diversity MBA, July 2023)