Diversity & Inclusion
We strive to create a workplace that provides all our team members equal opportunities for jobs, growth and development. By building an inclusive workplace environment, we seek to leverage a wide net for talent which is rich in diverse people and ideas. We see diversity as more than just statements, but actions that contribute to our success as a family business. It is an integral part of who we are as a company, how we operate and how we grow both personally and professionally.
To Achieve This Goal, We Endeavor To:
- Champion diversity and inclusion in our workplace and in society.
- Denounce any form of discrimination, physical or psychological violence and offenses to human rights.
- Foster workplaces where all people of every ethnicity, social background, religion, gender, age or disability feel welcomed and valued.
- Eliminate bias in interviewing, hiring and promoting.
How We Take Action
We believe in actionable steps and clear goals as we continue to evolve. We recognize we have much more to do, but we are proud of our team for their hunger to learn and grow.
- We have conducted interviews, focus groups and evaluations for our company to educate our teams around the history of systemic racism and give them experience having conversations around these relevant topics. We look forward to continuing this conversation, learning, growing, and supporting our team.
- Our “listening sessions” allowed us to hear from our staff why the topics of racial justice, inequality, and issues of racism are important to each of them. We enlisted an outside consulting group that specializes in diversity and inclusion to assist us in facilitating these conversations and make strategic recommendations based on our learns.
- We instituted mandated diversity and inclusion training for our staff at all levels, including annual training for our managers.
- In an effort to grow our workforce in a diverse way we transformed our recruiting practices to include more diverse job boards, blind resume reviews, and have instituted the use of metrics to ensure we are setting and reaching goals in relation to diversity and inclusion standards.
- We want all employees to feel opportunities are equally available to them, so we are posting all positions internally.
- We are asking questions in quarterly team member surveys to track and measure our progress and identify where specific attention may be needed.
- We want all employees to feel safe and we have created a confidential and anonymous platform for grievances.
Lou Malnati’s in the Lawndale Community
In 1995, Lou Malnati’s Lawndale opened with the goal of helping to rejuvenate the neighborhood and serve the residents of Lawndale delicious pizza, of course! We promised to give any profits from the store back to the community to benefit children’s educational and recreational programs.
Where We Are Going
We vow to approach each and every day with intention and integrity around our diversity and inclusion efforts.
These steps are just the beginning. Only action leads to real change. We believe in doing the hard work to be part of the change to dismantle oppression and create a brighter future for all people.