As a technology company, we know that innovation moves faster when all individuals, can contribute their unique talents, abilities, and perspectives to their work. There is strength in diversity. It helps us to find better solutions, relate to our customers authentically, and do our best work. Creating a culture that values all of its employees and makes everyone feel they belong takes consistent effort.
This is why we are so proud to be honored as one of the top scorers in the 2023 Disability Equality Index®. The Disability Equality Index was launched in 2015 by Disability:IN and The American Association of People with Disabilities (AAPD) and is acknowledged today as the most robust disability inclusion assessment tool in business. This recognition is given to employers working towards diversity and inclusion in the workplace. To say we are excited and proud of our work is an understatement. Here’s what some of our employees, including members of our ADAPT @GoTo (Abled and Disabled Advocates Together) employee resource group, had to say:
- “At GoTo, we are incredibly proud to have a team of over 100 dedicated Accessibility Champions who are passionate about continuous learning, pushing their teams to include accessibility from the start, and building inclusive products. Together, we foster a culture of growth and inclusivity, where investing in self-improvement is valued and celebrated.” - Anna Meszaros & Wendy Fox, Accessibility Leads- UX, GoTo
- “ADAPT is the newest of our employee resource groups but we have already accomplished some amazing things. We strive to provide support and resources for all our colleagues who face their own unique realities every day. We create space to celebrate all physical, mental, and cognitive abilities.” - Rich Veldran, Chief Financial Officer and ADAPT exec sponsor, GoTo
- “Before ADAPT, I felt alone - like on an island working remotely - as someone who is neurodivergent, ADAPT provided a safe place to be me - I learned a lot about the visible and invisible disabilities to better understand my colleagues and myself.” - Natalie Revell, Co-Leader of ADAPT
- "As someone who grew up around family members with disabilities in addition to having a son with disabilities, it makes me very proud and grateful to work for a company where we are intentional about being inclusive and bringing awareness to neurodiversity." - Adam Batchelder, ADAPT, Co-Leader
Destigmatizing mental health, discussing disabilities, and allowing flexibility in the workplace are key factors that have helped us achieve our score. These efforts, when part of a culture that is focused on creating a sense of belonging so employees can thrive at their work, has the inherent advantage of delivering the best outcomes for customers and stakeholders.
Tell Us More About Those Disability Equality Index Scores?
GoTo received an overall score of 90 from the 2023 Disability Equality Index. Highlights include:
- 100% on Culture and leadership: At GoTo, we are fortunate as we benefit from our flexible and remote work culture to do our work from anywhere and take care of ourselves both physically and mentally. ADAPT has been a resource for employees and their families who are navigating all types of situations.
- 100% on benefits, employee education, retention, and advancement: GoTo has comprehensive Employee Assistance Programs (EAP) and robust mental health support programs. At GoTo we have monthly self-care days to take care of our physical and mental well-being. We offer short- and long-term disability benefits, and regularly invite our employees to participate in our Thrive wellness programing.
- 100% on enterprise-wide access: This means we take the time to listen to employee’s unique needs and make accommodations for employees with disabilities when it comes to equipment, work schedules, and more. We want everyone to do their best work here and we will work with employees to make that happen.
- 100% on community engagement: ADAPT works to empower employees and create a supporting community. One of the ways our ERG works to empower employees is by hosting company-wide roundtables. ADAPT’s roundtables bring employees together to create a safe space for frank conversations around shared challenges, like neurodisabilities and ADHD in the workplace.
When launching ADAPT I knew that once a few employees were courageous and supported to share their stories about their disabilities or about their loved ones who have disabilities the seemingly quiet space would eventually become a beacon of comfort and a strong community would emerge. Since then, it has grown into a thriving community.
At GoTo we want to be an example of positive change and know that getting there takes dedication, leadership, and effort. This recognition is great validation that we are on the right path to continuous and ongoing improvement.
