Workforce Equity
The Workforce Equity Unit within Seattle Human Resources Department partners closely with the Race and Social Justice Division to improve outcomes in attraction, selection, participation, and retention for all City employees.
Workforce Equity considers the unique needs of individuals, groups, and the organization to provide unobstructed access to career opportunities in the City of Seattle. Workforce equity will be achieved when our 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.
UNITE
The goals and outcomes of the 2024 Workforce Equity Strategic Plan will be realized using a framework developed by the Workforce Equity Division called Unifying Next-Level Inclusion Through Equity (UNITE). UNITE facilitates meaningful systemic changes to create an organization where everyone is empowered and included through a collaborative, cyclical process to support the City-wide adoption of equitable HR practices. To learn more about the UNITE framework, please contact shr_workforce_equity@seattle.gov.
WEPAC
The Workforce Equity Planning & Advisory Committee (WEPAC) is an interdepartmental collective of employees from all job types across the City who champion fair and equitable treatment, access, and advancement within the City of Seattle’s workforce. We do this by centering the voices and stories of historically marginalized employees and giving actionable recommendations to City of Seattle decision-makers to create a more equitable and inclusive work environment for all City employees.
WEPAC also advises on the implementation of the Workforce Equity Strategic Plan. The committee is led by the WFE Director & Office of Civil Rights (OCR) RSJ Division Director and is sponsored by the directors of SHR & OCR.
Affirmative Action & Equal Employment Opportunity Program
The City of Seattle Department of Human Resources manages the citywide Equal Employment Opportunity Program (EEO) and Affirmative Action (AA) Program. For more information regarding EEO programming, Affirmative Action Plans, and general EEO/AA Program management please contact EEO@seattle.gov.
Language Premium Program
The Workforce Equity Division manages the administration of the Language Premium Program (SMC 4.20.360) for employees of Executive Departments and Offices of the City to be evaluated, assigned, and compensated for providing language services to support City business. To learn more about the Language Premium Program please contact shr_languagepremiumprogram@seattle.gov