Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion at L.L.Bean
The outdoors doesn’t judge. It doesn’t discriminate or patronize. Instead, it provides a haven for all to enjoy its restorative powers. At L.L.Bean, we cultivate this same environment of inclusivity and growth for all our employees. We are committed to ensuring that the outdoors is for everyone – and so is our company. Because, at the end of the day, we know it’s our differences that make us stronger.
Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion: What We’re Doing
Since 1912, we’ve grown from a single employee (our founder, Leon Leonwood Bean) to over 7,000. Throughout our 110-year history, we’ve continued to work towards building a culture of belonging for all employees regardless of race, ethnicity, gender, religion, abilities, or sexual orientations. Here are just some of our recent actions in building a more diverse, equitable, and inclusive workplace.
We aim to recruit and hire people of all backgrounds and continuously support learning and career development for all employees. We do this by offering paths for advancement that range from mentoring to career and leadership development programs. These efforts foster a culture where employees develop meaningful relationships, broaden their understanding of the company and engage the fullness of their talents and skills.
Due to limited access, exposure, or familiarity, some employees haven't had many opportunities to participate in outdoor activities. Our New Outsider initiative aims to inspire employees from different backgrounds and abilities – and their families – to experience the joy of the outdoors, and the many benefits that come along with it. Recent New Outsider events include a Learn to Kayak Discovery Course and a Rangeley Camp Experience Weekend.
Supporting employees’ mental and physical health is imperative to our values as an outdoor company – and in building a successful workforce. L.L.Bean partners with Mental Health America and has an Employee Assistant Program, providing live therapy services, hotlines, and other resources to all employees free of charge. Fitness centers are also available in every building at L.L.Bean headquarters, and the Health and Wellness Department offers free health screenings as well as live follow-ups to any employee.
With a workforce of individuals from across the globe, we share information about a number of important holidays and cultural moments with employees to recognize and celebrate our diverse L.L.Bean community. For instance, we commemorated the exciting Costa Rica-New Zealand World Cup soccer match with a festive gathering in our Costa Rica office!
EBRGs are an opportunity to connect with others who share similar identities and experiences in a friendly, supportive, and inclusive environment. Members build community, develop and share resources, and engage in local outreach. We currently have Veteran and LGBTQ+ EBRGs, and a BIPOC EBRG is in the works!
L.L.Bean is a values-driven company, and those values are shared globally – we’re known for our Maine roots, but we have a presence around the world! From our teams in Japan and Hong Kong to our Costa Rica offices, you'll be collaborating with geographically diverse colleagues – a wonderful way to become a global citizen.
