Veris Residential becomes the first company in
the world to achieve the WELL designation across portfolio,
demonstrating its deep commitment to support a thriving, inclusive
workplace and community
JERSEY
CITY, N.J. and NEW
YORK, July 12, 2023 /PRNewswire/ --
International WELL Building Institute ("IWBI"), the global
authority for driving market transformation through healthy
buildings, organizations and communities, and Veris Residential,
Inc. (NYSE: VRE) (the "Company"), a forward-thinking,
environmentally- and socially-conscious REIT that primarily owns,
operates, acquires and develops Class A multifamily properties,
today announced that Veris Residential has become the first company
globally to achieve the WELL Equity Rating across its entire
managed portfolio and corporate headquarters. The WELL Equity
Rating, developed by the IWBI, is designed to help
organizations act on their diversity, equity, inclusion (DE&I)
and accessibility goals, as well as improve company culture and
employee health.
The WELL Equity Rating includes more than 40 strategies spanning
six action areas—user experience and feedback, responsible hiring
and labor practices, inclusive design, health benefits and
services, supportive programs and spaces, and community engagement.
Veris Residential's achievement of the rating across 23 buildings
validates the Company's efforts to advance employee and resident
health and well-being, including through a comprehensive training
and development program, enhanced health benefits, and
property-specific features; celebrate DE&I and accessibility,
including through achievement of gender equality at the management
level ahead of the Company's 2025 goal; and promote sensitivity and
a commitment to equitable working conditions.
Indeed, by using the WELL Equity Rating, an evidence-based
roadmap, Veris Residential adopted an action-oriented approach
to advance equitable, people-first places that better address the
needs of and disparities among populations that have been
traditionally marginalized and underserved. The rating also served
as a tangible pathway that helped the organization follow through
on its DE&I commitments and transform how its workplaces are
designed, managed, and operated—all with the goal of creating
environments where everyone can thrive and live as their authentic
selves.
Anna Malhari, Chief Operating Officer of Veris Residential,
said, "We are pleased to receive the WELL Equity Rating
portfolio-wide, reflecting the significant work put forth by the
Veris Residential team to achieve our commitment to creating
'Communities with Purpose.' It is a top priority for Veris
Residential to continue evolving our Company practices in support
of the well-being of our employees, residents, and community
stakeholders, and we look forward to building upon this achievement
to make Veris Residential an even more responsible owner and
operator of multifamily properties."
Veris Residential has a history of leveraging the power of scale
to apply well-being strategies across its entire organization. The
WELL Equity Rating is the second WELL accolade Veris Residential
has achieved through the WELL at scale pathway. In December 2021, the company achieved the WELL
Health-Safety Rating portfolio-wide, enhancing its facility
operational protocols and management polices to protect the health
and safety of its employees and residents.
"Veris Residential is the first company to apply the WELL Equity
Rating across its entire portfolio, further underscoring its global
leadership in creating inclusive and equitable communities," said
Rachel Hodgdon, President and CEO of
IWBI. "The enterprise-wide application of the rating's
health-focused strategies speaks to the Company's unwavering
commitment to put people first and prioritize human health and
well-being."
Veris Residential underwent third-party verification to validate
its policies and actions to achieve the rating.
A growing body of evidence shows that employees in diverse
and inclusive workplaces are more likely to enjoy their jobs, work
harder, innovate more and ultimately, stay with their
employers longer. Diverse organizations have also been found
to be 1.32 times more productive and 21 percent more
profitable than their peers.
About Veris Residential
Veris Residential, Inc. is a forward-thinking, environmentally
and socially conscious real estate investment trust (REIT) that
primarily owns, operates, acquires, and develops holistically
inspired, Class A multifamily properties that meet the
sustainability-conscious lifestyle needs of today's residents while
seeking to positively impact the communities it serves and the
planet at large. The company is guided by an experienced management
team and Board of Directors and is underpinned by leading corporate
governance principles, a best-in-class and sustainable approach to
operations, and an inclusive culture based on equality and
meritocratic empowerment. For additional information on Veris
Residential, Inc. and our properties available for lease, please
visit https://verisresidential.com.
About the International WELL Building Institute
The International WELL Building Institute (IWBI) is a public
benefit corporation and the world's leading organization focused on
deploying people-first places to advance a global culture of
health. IWBI mobilizes its community through the administration of
the WELL Building Standard (WELL) and WELL ratings and
certifications, management of the WELL AP credential, the pursuit
of applicable research, the development of educational resources
and advocacy for policies that promote health and well-being
everywhere. More information on WELL can be found here.
International WELL Building Institute, IWBI, the WELL Building
Standard, WELL v2, WELL Certified, WELL AP, WELL Enterprise
Provider, WELL Score, The WELL Conference, We Are WELL, the WELL
Community Standard, WELL Health-Safety Rated, WELL Equity, WELL
Equity Rated, WELL Performance Rated, Works with WELL, WELL and
others, and their related logos are trademarks or certification
marks of International WELL Building Institute pbc in the United States and other countries.
Media Contact:
For Veris Residential:
Amanda
Shpiner/Grace Cartwright
Gasthalter & Co.
212-257-4170
veris-residential@gasthalter.com
For the International WELL Building
Institute:
media@wellcertified.com
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SOURCE Veris Residential, Inc.