Ricoh Advances DEI: Empowering Strong Teams and Driving Fulfillment Through Work

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) have emerged as crucial pillars for fostering innovation, collaboration, and organizational growth in today’s complex global business environment. For Ricoh, a company with a global footprint in digital services and printing technologies, DEI is more than just a corporate initiative, it’s integral to its mission of empowering people and enabling “Fulfillment through Work.” In 2023, Ricoh elevated its DEI strategy by integrating equity into its framework, signaling a deeper commitment to creating environments where diverse individuals can thrive.

In this article, we are unveiling how Ricoh is embedding equity in its business strategies, and the impact it has on employees, customers, and broader societal goals.

Ricoh’s Commitment to DEI and Why It Matters

For Ricoh, DEI is not just a value, it is a strategic priority linked to achieving its mission and addressing societal challenges. The company’s management identified a “Diverse and Inclusive Workforce” as one of its seven material issues, recognizing that fostering a corporate culture of inclusion empowers employees to unlock their potential.

Shun Yano, who leads the HRIS Department, explains why DEI is vital to Ricoh’s business strategy, noting that Ricoh is a global player with diverse businesses, ranging from multifunctional printers to digital services and office services outsourcing. He highlights the need for varied solutions to meet the wide-ranging customer needs and expectations, emphasizing that empowering diverse talent to collaborate drives Ricoh's DEI initiatives.

For employees, DEI presents an opportunity to align their personal and professional growth with Ricoh’s purpose. Yano points out that addressing diverse customer needs satisfies employees’ intellectual curiosity and creating an environment where they can find fulfillment through their work is central to the company’s DEI approach.

Equity: The Next Step in Ricoh’s DEI Journey

While diversity ensures representation and inclusion fosters belonging, equity ensures that all individuals have access to fair opportunities tailored to their needs. This understanding of equity led Ricoh to expand its DEI framework in 2023.

Ricoh’s global Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Statement reflects this philosophy. It states, “At Ricoh, we embrace and respect the collective and unique talents, experiences, and perspectives of all people. Together, we inspire remarkable innovation.” This statement has been translated into 22 languages, underscoring Ricoh’s commitment across all regions.

From Policies to Practice: Embedding Equity in Daily Operations

1. Building Inclusive Workplaces
   Ricoh has implemented flexible work arrangements to accommodate diverse needs, including those of parents, caregivers, and employees managing unique personal circumstances. However, as Mami Morimoto from the Human Resources Department points out that even when programs exist, employees don’t always translate into equitable outcomes. Their goal is to ensure that all employees, regardless of their roles, can succeed in the opportunities they choose to pursue.
2. DEI Empowerment Month
   One of Ricoh’s standout initiatives in 2024 was DEI Empowerment Month. Launched on February 6, Ricoh’s Foundation Day. It included a range of activities to introduce employees to the concept of equity and its importance in the workplace.
   
   Kaori Fujii, head of the Japan DEI Council, discusses the initiative’s impact, explaining that videos, articles, and panel discussions were used to encourage employees to reflect on equity both personally and professionally. Employees engaged in team discussions, developed their own equity initiatives, and made personal equity declarations. The response exceeded expectations, with many employees reporting that interacting with colleagues they rarely worked with provided fresh perspectives and deepened empathy. This led to teams adopting a more collaborative and inclusive approach to their work.
3. Promoting Gender Equity and Beyond
   Ricoh has long prioritized gender diversity, focusing on increasing the number of women in leadership roles. However, the company recognizes that equity extends beyond gender. Yano explains, “Equity means ensuring that no one, regardless of gender, nationality, or personal circumstances, faces barriers to success. For example, employees managing childcare responsibilities should have equal opportunities to achieve their goals.”

DEI as a Platform for Business Growth

Ricoh’s DEI initiatives align with its broader strategy as a digital services company. Fujii explains that, by embedding DEI into the company culture, Ricoh is better equipped to understand and meet the needs of its diverse customer base.

This alignment is evident in Ricoh Global SDGs Action 2024, an initiative that links DEI efforts to the company’s environmental, social, and governance (ESG) goals. According to Maiko Okano from the ESG Strategy Department, the 2024 efforts focused on three key areas including,

1. Leadership Passion for DEI: Top executives shared messages emphasizing DEI’s importance to Ricoh’s mission.
2. Global and Local DEI Initiatives: The company highlighted success stories, such as programs supporting women in leadership and flexible working arrangements.
3. Building Bridges through Individual Action: Employees participated in workshops and activities to deepen their understanding of equity, such as identifying examples of equity in daily life.

Okano notes that these initiatives sparked interest not only among employees but also among Ricoh’s business partners, leading to improved communication and collaboration.

Challenges and Opportunities

As with any transformative initiative, Ricoh faces challenges in fully embedding DEI, one of which is addressing generational diversity. Yano emphasizes the importance of including younger voices in decision-making, noting that while gender, nationality, and LGBTQ+ representation are often prioritized, age diversity is equally crucial. He points out that having executives in their 20s or 30s could bring fresh perspectives to the leadership team.

Another challenge is ensuring that DEI principles are internalized at all levels of the organization. Fujii explains that the goal is to create a common language around DEI, enabling employees to recognize its relevance not only in the workplace but also in their personal lives.

Ricoh’s DEI-Driven Future

Ricoh’s DEI efforts are closely tied to its vision of Fulfillment through Work. Morimoto explains that empowering employees through DEI enables them to tackle societal challenges with energy and creativity. For Yano, the ultimate success of DEI lies in embedding it deeply within the company’s DNA. He highlights the goal of making DEI so integral to Ricoh’s culture that it becomes second nature and no longer needs to be explicitly called out.

As businesses worldwide grapple with DEI challenges, Ricoh’s approach serves as a model for integrating equity into business strategies. By fostering collaboration, empathy, and innovation, Ricoh not only fulfills its mission but also contributes to building a more equitable and sustainable society.

Source:  RICOH USA