Mayor Releases First Ever Workforce Report
 Mayor Martin J. Walsh released the City of Boston’s first ever Workforce Profile Report to transparently examine the racial and gender makeup of Boston’s municipal employee base. The report was led by Shaun Blugh, the City’s first-ever Chief Diversity Officer and Deputy Chief Diversity Officer, Freda Brasfield.
The report analyzes annual pay rate disparities at the Cabinet, Department Head, and throughout each department, and highlights current initiatives and outlines recommendations for the Walsh Administration to establish a road map for further diversification of the Boston workforce. The findings of this report will play a role in succession planning as City Hall prepares for the upcoming transition of an aging workforce.
“This report represents a blueprint of where we are in city government when it comes to race and diversity of our workforce,” Mayor Walsh said. “We were able to take a in-depth look at each department to see where we can improve and specifically what we need to do to reach our goals. It is our priority to not only improve the numbers but to create a strong pipeline that will ensure we are finding the best talent and cultivating that talent for positions throughout City Hall.”
Mayor Appoints North End Resident
Mayor Martin J. Walsh announced the appointment of Giselle Sterling of the North End as Commissioner of Veterans’ Services for the City of Boston. She will be the first Latina and first woman to hold this position. Sterling has served as interim Commissioner for the department since January 16, 2015.
“Giselle is an effective leader and I’m pleased to make permanent her appointment as Veterans’ Services Commissioner,” said Mayor Walsh. “Her commitment to advocacy and serving our veterans is invaluable to our community and our city, and I’m pleased she’ll continue serving with us in this capacity.”
“I am grateful to Mayor Walsh for this opportunity to serve Boston veterans,” said Sterling. “It is my honor to work for the men and women who have worn the uniform for our country.”
Mayor Meets With Business on Equal Pay Day
 Mayor Martin J. Walsh last week joined nearly 200 business leaders at the Omni Parker House for an event discussing the disparities in wage equity that remain in Boston and around the country.
 The first annual Best Practices Conference for the signatories of Mayor Walsh’s 100% Talent Compact, a commitment to wage equity in the workplace, was sponsored by the Boston Women’s Workforce Council, Simmons College, and the Mayor’s Office of Women’s Advancement. It included a panel discussion of upcoming gender wage gap reporting by area businesses and presentations from business leaders on action steps being taken at their companies to close the wage gap.
“Closing the wage gap requires a multifaceted approach,†Mayor Walsh said. “We have to create more pipelines for female employees, we have to create more family-friendly policies.