This article originally appeared on DiversityInc.com on June 09, 2006.
The companies on this Top 10 list demonstrate a nurturing, respectful corporate environment where all employees can reach their potential. To ascertain this list, we looked at recruitment and marketing programs aimed at people with disabilities, employee-resource groups, diversity training and we examined the Web sites of the company's to see if they mentioned and featured images of people with disabilities. We also consulted with leading national disability organizations.
Consider these statistics:
· The Top 10 Companies for People With Disabilities have at least two percentage points' higher average retention rates across all races/ethnicities/gender than the Top 50.
· All these Top 10 have active programs to recruit for people with disabilities, compared with 78 percent of the Top 50 and 48 percent of the bottom quarter of entrants. There were 256 participants in this year's ranking.
· All these Top 10 also have active programs to recruit for GLBT employees, compared with 60 percent of the Top 50 and 21 percent of the bottom quarter of entrants.
· All these Top 10 have employee-resource groups, compared with 94 percent of the Top 50 and 80 percent of the bottom quarter of respondents. At all these companies, the company funds the groups and allows them to meet during the workday, a senior executive is a member of each group, and the groups are used to augment recruiting and marketing efforts to diverse communities. This is a significantly higher percentage for each of those questions than the Top 50 and the bottom quarter of respondents.
· Diversity training is mandatory for the entire work force at each of this Top 10, compared with 60 percent of the Top 50 and 41.7 percent of the bottom quarter of respondents.
· CEO commitment to diversity is clear at these companies. In all, heads of diversity are direct reports or one direct report removed from CEO, compared with 92 percent of Top 50 and 80 percent of bottom quarter of respondents.
· The corporate-vision statement incorporates diversity at all these Top 10 compared with 90 percent of the Top 50 and 81.6 percent of the bottom quarter of respondents.
· Forty-two percent of managers who received promotions in this Top 10 were women, compared with a Top 50 average of 36 percent.
· Eighty percent of these Top 10 have onsite childcare, compared with 52 percent of the Top 50, 28 percent of the bottom quarter of respondents and just 6 percent of companies nationwide (national statistic from Society of Human Resources Management).
Here are the Top 10 Companies for People With Disabilities:
No. 1: Merrill Lynch
Also No. 44 on The 2006 DiversityInc Top 50 Companies for Diversity list, No. 4 on the Top 10 Companies for Asian American.
A long-time national leader in reaching this community, Merrill Lynch's Web site specifically reaches out to customers with disabilities and includes a Children With Disabilities Program, a Disability Awareness Professional Network, a special-needs calculator and a supplier-diversity effort aimed at people with disabilities.
No. 2: Cingular Wireless
Also No. 15 on The 2006 DiversityInc Top 50 Companies for Diversity list, No. 1 on the Top 10 Companies for Latinos, No. 9 on the Top 10 Companies for Executive Women, No. 9 on the Top 10 Companies for GLBT Employees
With an affinity group for people with disabilities, this company also makes strong note on its Web site of its disability resources for customers, including products, and has a National Center for Customers With Disabilities.
No. 3: SSM Healthcare
As befitting a health-care company, SSM's CEO's message on its Web site advocates its strong commitment to people with disabilities. Its supplier-diversity program also has a strong component for people with disabilities.
No. 4: Merck & Co.
Also No. 34 on The 2006 DiversityInc Top 50 Companies for Diversity list, No. 8 on the Top 10 Companies for Asian Americans
The pharmaceutical giant has a unique accessibility statement stating its commitment to people with disabilities, a strong supplier-diversity program for people with disabilities and a demonstrated work-force commitment to this community.
No. 5: Eastman Kodak
Also on the 2006 25 Noteworthy Companies list
Kodak has strong relationships with national disability organizations, an employee group for this community, and images of people with visible disabilities on its Web site.
No. 6: Sodexho USA
Also No. 14 on The 2006 DiversityInc Top 50 Companies for Diversity list, No. 7 on the Top 10 Companies for Executive Women
The company has partnerships with businesses owned by people with disabilities and many images of people with disabilities on its Web site.
No. 7: Citigroup
No. 27 on The 2006 DiversityInc Top 50 Companies for Diversity list, No. 2 on the Top 10 Companies for Latinos, No. 9 on the Top 10 Companies for Recruitment & Retention
The banking giant has a strong supplier-diversity program for people with disabilities, mentions this community in its diversity mission statement, has an ATM locator with a special-services option for people with disabilities and very actively recruits within this group.
No. 8: KPMG
Also on the 2006 25 Noteworthy Companies list
The company has a good recruitment program for people with disabilities and has numerous mentions of this community on its Web site.
No. 9: Toyota NA
No. 29 on The 2006 DiversityInc Top 50 Companies for Diversity list
The company has many photos and resources demonstrating its offerings for people with disabilities
No. 10: SC Johnson
No. 46 on The 2006 DiversityInc Top 50 Companies for Diversity list
With strong imagery of people with disabilities on its Web site, the company also has received national recognition for its efforts with this community.
