We value our team members and support associates, striving to help, teach, and mentor them, providing the opportunity to qualify for higher-level positions and pursue new opportunities. Our learning and development programs include:

• Onboarding programs
• Leadership training
• Communication training
• Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion training
• Individual learning plans
• Team building services
• Community Manager and Maintenance Manager training
• Mentorship Program

Over 50,000 hours of training and development programs were provided to associates, totaling investment in human capital of $392,000 in 2020.

Essex has offered a Wellness program to employees for over nine years. In 2018, the Company expanded the program offering and launched Vitality, a comprehensive and interactive wellness platform that tracks and records healthy behavior. Vitality allows users to earn reward points and credit toward lowering their individual medical premiums. In 2020, 68% of associates registered in our wellness platform, encouraging healthier lifestyles.

We advocate full inclusion and fair treatment of all individuals. Our Diversity and Inclusion Committee monitors activities and promotes diversity, equal opportunity, and fair treatment for all those working at Essex.

In 2020, 42% of our total workforce, 67% of associates in managerial positions or higher, and two of the four highest ranking officers within the Company were female. During the same year, the Company provided 2,850 hours of training focused on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) and awareness of unconscious bias in the workplace, and our associates formed Women at Essex, an employee-led affinity group.

The Company is committed to paying employees equally and conducts an equal pay analysis on an annual basis. Our pay equity analysis for 2020 indicated a zero percent (0%) pay gap between men and women.

We understand the importance of work-life balance and recognize that happy, healthy associates maximize productivity and effectiveness in the long term. We value and reward Essex Associates for teamwork and ownership of a problem and encourage their engagement.

The results of the 2020 employee engagement surveys indicate that 93% of surveyed associates consider that their day-to-day work directly impacts the Company’s mission and vision, 91% believe that their opinions and ideas matter at Essex, and 93% feel that the Company supports diversity, equity, and inclusion in the workplace.