DEI at
Johnson Lambert
Johnson Lambert is intentional about culture, because it is the lifeblood of our organization and it shapes who we are, what we do, how we work and live, and what each interaction with our team feels like.
As we care about our culture being relevant to our employees, to our clients, and to those we aspire to have as our team members and our clients, evolution of our culture must include further advancement in the areas of diversity, equity, and inclusion.
A key force in moving the DEI needle forward at Johnson Lambert is our DEI Committee, comprising more than a dozen employees from all levels of experience, across all service lines, and representing various geographies. The DEI Committee itself is ethnically diverse and includes LGBTQIA+ community representation. The mission of the DEI Committee is to create and nurture an organizational culture and work environment that:
- is anti-racist and anti-biased
- welcomes everyone to show up as their authentic selves
- equips our employees with the training and language to have respectful, progressive, and candid conversations, event when we have differing viewpoints
- recognizes the value of diversity, and supports continued growth of diversity at Johnson Lambert
Initiatives to Support
Opportunity and Inclusion for All
Supporting Health and Wellness
We prioritize the wellness of our Johnson Lambert team. Flexible work arrangement opportunities help alleviate the stresses that accompany everyday life — family needs, health concerns, whatever it may be. Our Employee Assistance Program provides employees with convenient and confidential counseling services at no additional cost. With five weeks of paid time off, our team is able to take a break when they need to destress or put their energy elsewhere.
Participating in the CEO Action Community
In 2020, Managing Partner John Prescott joined nearly 2000 CEOs/leaders in signing the CEO Action for Diversity & Inclusion pledge. CEO Action is the largest CEO-driven business commitment to advance diversity and inclusion within the workplace. In being pledge signatories, the firm has access to countless invaluable resources on DEI topics and programs and access to the wealth of knowledge shared by DEI professionals from a wide variety of companies nationwide.
Empowering Women in Leadership
In the public accounting industry, women make up an average of 23% of firm executives. Johnson Lambert is proud to have 50% of our partners, managing directors, and principals be women. This gender balance has been in place from the first day of Johnson Lambert’s existence as our two founding partners were one man and one woman. The firm continues in the spirit of our founders to strive for gender balance at all levels of the firm.
Honoring Individual Cultures
As a part of our continued efforts to be a fully inclusive workplace that is respectful to all cultures, Johnson Lambert expanded our traditional paid holiday calendar to add a floating holiday. Floating holidays allow employees to celebrate or observe additional cultural or religious holidays or commemorations that are important to them. Understanding that no two cultures or communities celebrate the same, providing an equitable and inclusive experience for all is a top priority at Johnson Lambert.
Engaging in Meaningful Conversations
In 2021, the Johnson Lambert DEI Committee launched a series of courageous conversations called “DEI Presents.” Each month these events are open to anyone in the firm and focus on a particular celebration or month of awareness. Attendees watch a short video and then engage in discussion with one another about such topics as race, gender, sexuality, and so on. The goal is uncover and work past each individual’s own unconscious bias and promote progress.
Involvement in Organizations That
Support DEI Efforts in Our Communities
Bringing together our energies in diversity, equity, and inclusion and giving back
The Johnson Lambert team helps to advance efforts in diversity and inclusion by serving on national and local boards. Such involvement includes board positions on the Association Forum’s Diversity and Workforce Development Committee, the National Association of Black Accountants, and the African American Legacy Fund of the Chicago Community Trust. We also volunteer with organizations like Junior Achievement that empower young students with the knowledge and skills to be able to own their success, develop future plans, and make well-informed academic and economic decisions.
Embodying a Culture of
Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
Johnson Lambert is not only a firm of CPAs, consultants, advisors, and thought leaders. We are teammates, volunteers, and advocates for change. We pride ourselves on our inclusive culture and our commitment to fostering an environment and culture where people examine and adjust their unconscious biases; where racism, sexism, homophobia, and bigotry are never tolerated; and where we lift people up based on their individual merits and character. We acknowledge we have more work to do, and we are committed to do that work and to the transparency needed to get it done.
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women partners, managing directors, & principals
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women employees firmwide
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ethnically diverse partners, managing directors, & principals
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ethnically diverse employees firmwide
"As cliche as it sounds, the culture is what really makes Johnson Lambert. JL is my second home and I think it is important to not only enjoy what you do, but to enjoy who you work with. JL continues to evolve and adapt to changes in the times and environment and it has been exciting to see and be part of that evolution. There is always something new to learn or something to teach, so there is never a dull moment. It has really been a joy to grow up here and see others grow as well."
Our
DEI Highlights
January 2020
November 2020
November 2020
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