Diversity and inclusion of thought and people are fundamental to WM’s People First commitment and our values, as described in our Code of Conduct.
By supporting green collar career journeys – from expanding talent pools to recruiting and fostering great talent to upskilling for the future – WM aims to cultivate a culture of belonging and inclusion, where every employee feels heard, valued and empowered. Delivering on our commitment requires deliberate investments across the employee experience – starting with the way teams collaborate, how leaders engage, and the ways we grow careers. We want all employees to feel part of a team, know their contributions matter value diverse talent and perspectives and have opportunities to grow and thrive.
Being an Employer of Choice
To help position WM as an employer of choice for top talent, we are further strengthening the employee experience through progressive compensation and benefits programs and robust development opportunities.
To expand opportunities, we have broadened our applicant pool to reach individuals outside the waste industry with an intentional focus on competency-based hiring by identifying core requirements for success. This approach allows WM to screen candidates for knowledge, skills and abilities, rather than relying solely on tenure, prior industry-specific experience or educational milestones.
We also continue to expand the reach of our WM Career Pathways program, which works with nonprofits to break down barriers and help bring individuals into entry-level jobs. The program is embarking on its next chapter – one focused on long-term growth, advancement and the full career journey, further strengthening our commitment to helping qualified people build futures, not just find jobs.
Embedding Diversity and Inclusion Inside WM
At WM, we embrace and cultivate respect, trust, open communication and diversity of thought and people. Our employee communities or affinity groups continue to connect employees to meaningful experiences, strengthen belonging and enhance our community outreach efforts and are available to all employees. We continue to cultivate a culture of belonging through cultural observances and celebrations, mentorship opportunities, leader enablement, recognition programs such as Green & Grateful that reinforce our values and ongoing employee listening and feedback. We also work to build inclusive behaviors through leadership development offerings, because we know the impact we can make together when we unite on shared values and purpose.