Sustainability at Kelly
IN THIS SECTION:
Our Approach
Strategic Priorities
We create shared value by delivering our promise of connecting people to work that enriches their lives while positively impacting the communities where we live and work.
Our sustainability approach focuses on this commitment of conducting business responsibly while amplifying our efforts to attract, retain, and provide equitable opportunities for our employees and talent through meaningful work.
As we continue delivering on our specialties and innovative solutions, our clients and business partners are key to our success. We actively engage with our stakeholders to understand their environmental, social, and governance commitments, and they depend on us as partners to help them achieve their sustainability and social impact objectives.
Over the past year, we looked for new ways to enhance our sustainability program. 2024 was a great year as we refocused on our initiatives and sought to be even more thoughtful about what we want to be in the coming years. It was a year of refinement and observation in efforts to move the needle in the right direction for the future.
Demonstrating a robust dedication to sustainability remains critical for attracting both internal and contingent talent. As a staffing company, it's important to not only showcase our role in sustainable efforts but also our program’s positive impact and how we support our supply chain partners.
The ESG Advisory Committee continues to be a strong force within Kelly, strategically selected members who represent various departments, business units, and initiatives across the Kelly footprint. The ESG advisory committee is one of the ways Kelly stays apprised of issues related to sustainability that impact our company, customers, and suppliers.
The Kelly ESG Advisory Committee has established the following priorities for 2025:
Reassess environmental performance priorities and opportunities based on the Climate Change risk assessment for alignment with sustainability goals.
Drive local community engagement globally to achieve the most impact. Scale efforts and partnerships to enhance equitable and enriching work through inclusion and belonging.
Continue to align measures to global, federal, state, and local regulations on climate change and human capital.
Embrace artificial intelligence (AI), recognizing its potential to revolutionize how we connect talented individuals with meaningful career opportunities.
We invite you to delve into this report to gain an additional perspective on our 2024 progress in fulfilling our commitments to making a difference, spurring change, and fostering a sustainable future for everyone.
Richard Glover, Director, Enterprise Risk, Compliance, and Sustainability, On behalf of the ESG Advisory Committee:General CounselChief Accounting OfficerChief Audit ExecutiveChief Diversity OfficerChief Financial OfficerChief People OfficerChief Risk OfficerVice President, People ExperienceBusiness Unit RepresentativesCorporate Sustainability Specialist
Kelly recognizes the critical importance of sustainability in addressing the world’s most pressing environmental and social challenges. We base our approach on the concept of creating shared value, which aims to generate economic value by addressing societal needs and moving beyond traditional corporate social responsibility. Our commitment to sustainable growth helps us manage risks efficiently while continuing to develop long-term business opportunities.
In 2024, our Sustainability strategy continued to focus on strengthening relationships and aligning our key corporate functions and business teams, which lays the foundation for our future sustainability goals. From strengthening relationships with stakeholders through community engagement and emphasizing skills-based volunteering, to eliminating barriers to work opportunities with programs like Equity@Work, we consistently create shared value.
Our Sustainability strategy aligns with Kelly’s Enterprise Goals and growth strategy through seven core pillars that address stakeholder expectations and critical risks and opportunities across environmental, social, and governance issues. These core pillars are based on nine United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UN SDGs) and support all programs and initiatives within our Sustainability strategy. This alignment ensures that internal resources and activities have a positive impact on our triple bottom line.
Since 2019, Kelly has proudly been a signatory of the United Nations Global Compact (UNGC), consistently adhering to and reporting our progress toward the Ten Principles that promote sustainable and socially responsible business practices. We remain committed to embedding these principles into our core strategy and business culture.
Kelly actively supports the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), aligning our strategy with the nine goals where we believe our business strategy and activities can make the most significant impact.
The content of this publication has not been approved by the United Nations and does not reflect the views of the United Nations or its officials or Member States.
Kelly consistently engages with a diverse range of global stakeholders crucial to our business's growth and success in the communities we serve. Effective stakeholder engagement is vital to our sustainability strategy, involving active listening and collaboration to address stakeholder concerns and expectations.
We identify and prioritize key stakeholders, including employees, talent, board members, customers, suppliers, investors, community groups, NGOs, and government bodies, based on their alignment with our operations and sustainability goals.
To gather diverse perspectives, we use methods such as surveys for feedback on sustainability practices, focus groups for in-depth topic discussions, and interviews with key business leaders for qualitative insights.
Stakeholder feedback directly shapes our sustainability priorities and goals, which we integrate into our strategic planning to ensure alignment with expectations and reinforce our commitment to responsible practices.
We are committed to ongoing engagement, adapting to trends and addressing new concerns. Regular updates and transparent reporting keep stakeholders informed of our progress.
Through robust engagement, Kelly continually enhances its sustainability performance, creating long-term value for both the business and its stakeholders.
American Staffing Association
Business Leaders for Michigan
Detroit Regional Chamber
Everest Group
Human Capital Institute
International Association of Outsourcing Professionals
OSHA Temporary Worker Initiative
Second Chance Business Coalition
Society of Human Resource Management Foundation
Staffing Industry Analysts
The Conference Board
The World Employment Confederation
Best Buddies International
CDP (formerly Carbon Disclosure Project)
Data Privacy Framework
EcoVadis
Global Reporting Initiative
United Nations Global Compact
In 2024, Kelly partnered with a third-party consultant to conduct a comprehensive double materiality assessment as part of our three-year assessment cycle. This analysis offers insights into the influence of our sustainability performance on stakeholders, while examining the impact of external factors on Kelly. It establishes a balanced framework for priority-setting and strategic alignment.
Internal Interviews and Benchmarking: We conducted 13 structured interviews with the Senior Leadership Team, informed by peer review benchmarking. Participants prioritized 10 topics from a list of 24 and suggested targets for Kelly, contributing to 60% of the benchmarking score and helping identify key material topics.
Stakeholder Selection: Selected twelve key topics for detailed analysis. A stakeholder perception survey targeted diverse groups, including employees, talent, board members, suppliers, customers, and financial institutions, to assess external influence and interest. Concurrently, a financial materiality survey assessed the impact of these topics on Kelly’s operations using internal leadership insights.
Stakeholder Perception Survey: 442 participants' responses, measuring economic, social, and environmental impacts using a 0-5 importance scale.
Financial Survey: Assessed impact magnitude and likelihood, scores ranging from 0 to 5 calculated using these dimensions.
This analysis identified key topics that align external stakeholder expectations with internal strategic needs. It helps shape objectives for achieving positive environmental, social, and economic impacts and guides stakeholder engagement to adapt to emerging trends and risks. Moreover, the analysis emphasizes integration of stakeholder perspectives with financial insights to ensure Kelly's business goals align with societal expectations, reinforcing our commitment to responsible and sustainable practices.
