Workforce Equity

The Workforce Equity Initiative is the City's commitment to eliminate racial disparities and achieve equity for the City's employees.

We will know that we have reached workforce equity when:

  • the  workforce is inclusive of people of color and other marginalized or under-represented groups
  • at a rate representative of the greater Seattle area
  • at all levels of City employment;

where

  • institutional and structural barriers impacting employee attraction, selection, participation and retention have been eliminated,
  • enabling opportunity for employment success and career growth.

Workforce Equity is an extension of the City's Race and Social Justice Initiative - with a focus on the City's employees.  Under Executive Order 2015-02, the Seattle Office for Civil Rights and Seattle Department of Human Resources partnered to create the first Workforce Equity Strategic Plan in July 2016.  The Workforce Equity Division in SDHR oversees the Plan, its updates and the work described in Executive Order 2018-04: Anti-Harassment and Anti-Discrimination. 

Workforce Equity Definition

"Workforce equity is when the workforce is inclusive of people of color and other marginalized or underrepresented groups at a rate representative of the greater Seattle area at all levels of City employment; where institutional and structural barriers impacting employee attraction, selection, participation, and retention have been eliminated, enabling opportunity for employment success and career growth." Workforce Equity Strategic Plan, City of Seattle, 2016 

WEPAC & WFE Strategy

The Workforce Equity Planning and Advisory Committee (WEPAC) guides and supports leaders at the City of Seattle to be fully inclusive of people of color, and other marginalized or under-represented groups, in its work to dismantle institutional and structural barriers to racial equity. WEPAC develops policies, systems, and accountability structures that attract, select and retain a workforce that reflects the demographics of the greater Seattle area. WEPAC also advises on the implementation of the Workforce Equity Strategic Plan. The Committee is made up of multi-racial members from multiple departments of all sizes, Labor Relations, and Labor. It is led by the WFE Director & Office of Civil Rights (OCR) RSJI Division Director and is chaired by the directors of SHR & OCR.

Leadership Expectations & Accountability Plan (LEAP)

The LEAP is an interactive learning tool developed by the Workforce Equity Planning & Advisory Committee (WEPAC) that people can use to see where they are in their knowledge and practice of racial equity and social justice.

It is meant to evolve and was designed for personal use. Learn more about LEAP and tools via the LEAP FAQs and documents below.

LEAP FAQ Cover Page

(Click here for LEAP FAQ)

LEAP Documents

For detailed information:

Key Resources:

Human Resources

Kimberly Loving, Director
Address: 700 5th Ave, Suite 5500, Seattle, WA , 98124
Mailing Address: PO Box 34028, Seattle, WA, 98124-4028
Phone: (206) 684-7999
Fax: (206) 684-4157
SHR_Info@seattle.gov

The Human Resources Department provides human resource services, tools, and expert assistance to departments, policy makers, employees, and the public so that the City of Seattle's diverse work force is deployed, supported, and managed fairly to accomplish the City's business goals.