HIW CRR 2023 v8 - Flipbook - Page 35
D I V E R S E A N D I N C L U S I V E C U LT U R E
Employee well-being at Highwoods focuses on the
overall person. Our approach provides all individuals
with positive work experiences and opportunities
to achieve their professional goals. Throughout our
history, our maintenance teammates have been
predominantly male. That department aside, the
percentage of Highwoods’ employees who are female
continues to increase, demonstrating that Highwoods
specifically, and the commercial real estate industry
generally, are places where all can grow. Today, 56%
of our non-maintenance employees are female.
CASE STUDY
PARTNERING WITH DISADVANTAGED
SMALL BUSINESSES
Highwoods has proven that vendor and supply
chain diversity is a win-win for all. Through our
commitment to advancing diversity and
inclusion in our local communities, we developed
an innovative strategy for partnering with
Women-Owned, Disadvantaged, HUBZoned,
Veteran-Owned and Disabled Veteran-Owned
small businesses. We organized a multidisciplinary
team to identify disadvantaged small businesses
in our communities and provide them with
opportunities to bid on projects and supplier
contracts. To measure program engagement and
success, our executive team established program
performance standards and met regularly with
the DIG to review progress and new opportunities.
In 2023, we developed relationships with new
disadvantaged small businesses across our portfolio
who supply us with a wide variety of affordable,
high-quality products and services, including roof
replacements and janitorial services.
YAM JAM
OVER THE EDGE SPECIAL OLYMPICS
BOYS & GIRLS CLUB BREAKFAST OF CHAMPIONS
APPRENTICESHIP CAREER FAIR
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