Diversity and Inclusion at PepsiCo

Running head: DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION AT PEPSICO
Diversity and Inclusion at PepsiCo
Name of Student:
Name of the University:
Author note:

DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION AT PEPSICO1
Table of Contents
1. Introduction.........................................................................................................................2
1.1. Background of the study:.............................................................................................2
1.2. What is Workplace Diversity?.....................................................................................2
2. Discussion:..........................................................................................................................3
2.1. PepsiCo, Inc.:...............................................................................................................3
2.2. PepsiCo’s Diversity and Engagement Policies:..........................................................3
2.3. PepsiCo’s HR Initiatives towards Diversity:...............................................................5
2.4. PepsiCo’s Retention Policy.........................................................................................6
2.5. Recommendation:........................................................................................................7
3. Comparison to Coca-Cola’s Diversity Initiatives:..............................................................8
References:.................................................................................................................................9

DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION AT PEPSICO2
1. Introduction
1.1. Background of the study:
The current workplaces are facing seismic changes in dynamics during these recent times
as global markets are on their rise. With workplaces encompassing more of a global outlook,
it will be important for diversity to not be just an added benefit in company policies, but it
needs to becomes more of a necessity in organisational strategies and policies adopted by the
company (Anjorin and Jansari 2018). It is becoming increasingly common for all business
executives to value diversity positively in their workplace, as a greater reach and access into a
bigger pool of employees is always going to be helpful for the organization. This bigger
employee pool is filled with people who have very different world-views and this helps the
company get insight into what the similarly diverse customer pool requires (Ozturk and Tatli
2016). This paper will be analysing the importance given to diverse workplace, specifically
related to gender diversity, at Pepsi Co, along with the policies and strategies that are already
in place and finally, the degree to which these policies are being followed and accepted.
1.2. What is Workplace Diversity?
To put it simply, the definition of workplace diversity can be accurately stated as being
the creation of such an environment that does not have a problem in accepting the differences
among individuals working at the company (Davis, Frolova and Callahan 2016).
Additionally, the company’s policies and strategies are able to appropriately embrace the
strengths provided by the diverse employees and be able to identify what opportunities can be
capitalized on so that these employees’ full potential can be integrated into the company’s
success. It is also important to keep in mind that diversity does not only fall under race or
ethnicity, it can also be related to gender, handicapped individuals, an individual’s

DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION AT PEPSICO3
socioeconomic background, sexual orientation and also according to age (Hunt, Layton and
Prince 2015).
2. Discussion:
2.1. PepsiCo, Inc.:
PepsiCo is an American brand that sells a range of multinational food and snack products
along with their main product line being carbonated beverages. The company’s headquarters
are located in Harrison, New York (Venkataraman, Summers and Venkataraman 2017). The
formation of the company happened in the year 1965 after the company signed a merger of
the Pepsi-Cola Company and the Frito-Lay Inc. Based on the net revenue that the company
generates with its demand being worldwide, puts PepsiCo on the list of being the second
largest food and beverage company in the world (Rama, Han and Hessels 2018).
2.2. PepsiCo’s Diversity and Engagement Policies:
The executives at PepsiCo believe that diversity will no doubt increase the corporate
social responsibility of the company, but it is also a necessary outlook to accept for the future
betterment of the company (Scandelius and Cohen 2016). These executives believe that the
only way that the company will be the strongest is if there is an environment that is fully able
to embrace the whole spectrum that humanity provides. The company has been able to make
great strides in past with being a pioneer among its competitors to incorporate diversity into
its workplace. For example, in the 1940s the company was the first to integrate African
American employees into their sales force. Additionally, in the 1950s the company was first
amongst its competitors to have hired their first female board member. It is great to see that
PepsiCo embraces diversity and engagement to its fullest extent and views it as a business
advantage that will motivate the company’s innovation, improve its reputation in the market