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Global diversity is a subject that continually redefines itself as organizations struggle with issues of local cultures and control. DiversityInc is now in the second phase of studying global diversity best practices and results in 17 countries. For purposes of this list, we used responses submitted to The 2011 DiversityInc Top 50 Companies for Diversity on our global survey questions plus our specific knowledge of the global-diversity initiatives of companies submitting surveys.
What makes these companies stand out—and the others that are pioneering this area of diversity management—is their willingness to learn from local cultures and expand their U.S.-centric views of what a “best practice” is. At the same time, the sustainable values that make these countries diversity leaders in the United States as well as human-rights champions everywhere are core to their global business efforts.
Here are some aggregate facts about this list plus individual facts about each company:
- All of them have formal programs to prepare employees and their families to live in other countries
- All of them have global employee-resource groups that meet during the workday, are funded by the company and have a senior executive as a sponsor. The majority of those groups are aimed at women
- All of them have policies in place globally to protect employees from both harassment and discrimination
- Almost all have flexible hours for religious observances globally
- Almost all offer disability-awareness training in global locations
- Almost all have global mentoring programs
Here are the companies and a fact about why each one is strong globally:
No. 1: IBM
No. 7 in the DiversityInc Top 50. Also No. 4 in The DiversityInc Top 10 Companies for Asian Americans; No. 3 in The DiversityInc Top 10 Companies for LGBT Employees; No. 1 in The DiversityInc Top 10 Companies for People With Disabilities
IBM has a long history of standing up for human-rights values across the globe. In addition, the company has extraordinary global talent-development efforts, especially its mentoring programs.
No. 2: Ernst & Young
No. 5 in the DiversityInc Top 50. Also No. 2 in The DiversityInc Top 10 Companies for Recruitment & Retention; No. 10 in The DiversityInc Top 10 Companies for Latinos; No. 7 in The DiversityInc Top 10 Companies for Executive Women; No. 5 in The DiversityInc Top 10 Companies for LGBT Employees; No. 5 in The DiversityInc Top 10 Companies for People With Disabilities
The company’s deep-rooted commitment to global values and global talent development, as well as respecting local cultures, starts at the top. See what Chairman and CEO Jim Turley said about this specifically at DiversityInc’s March event.
No. 3: PricewaterhouseCoopers
No. 3 in the DiversityInc Top 50. Also No. 1 in The DiversityInc Top 10 Companies for Recruitment & Retention; No. 5 in The DiversityInc Top 10 Companies for Asian Americans; No. 2 in The DiversityInc Top 10 Companies for Executive Women; No. 6 in The DiversityInc Top 10 Companies for LGBT Employees
PricewaterhouseCoopers’ flexible work benefits and emphasis on talent development globally, increasingly for women, also starts at the top. Bob Moritz, chairman and senior partner, addressed global cultural competency at DiversityInc’s March event.
No. 4: Sodexo
No. 2 in the DiversityInc Top 50. Also No. 5 in The DiversityInc Top 10 Companies for Recruitment & Retention; No. 3 in The DiversityInc Top 10 Companies for Supplier Diversity; No. 7 in The DiversityInc Top 10 Companies for Blacks; No. 3 in The DiversityInc Top 10 Companies for Latinos; No. 3 in The DiversityInc Top 10 Companies for Executive Women; No. 7 in The DiversityInc Top 10 Companies for LGBT Employees; No. 9 in The DiversityInc Top 10 Companies for People With Disabilities
Sodexo has been a global leader in using its diversity successes to help it win contracts with companies and governments that value diversity and inclusion.
No. 5: Deloitte
No. 8 in the DiversityInc Top 50. Also No. 8 in The DiversityInc Top 10 Companies for Latinos; No. 1 in The DiversityInc Top 10 Companies for Asian Americans; No. 8 in The DiversityInc Top 10 Companies for Executive Women; No. 8 in The DiversityInc Top 10 Companies for People With Disabilities
Deloitte has a strong emphasis on talent development globally for women and people from traditionally underrepresented groups in individual companies.
No. 6: KPMG
No. 29 in the DiversityInc Top 50. Also No. 1 in The DiversityInc Top 10 Companies for LGBT Employees; No. 2 in The DiversityInc Top 10 Companies for People With Disabilities
This company has been a leader in corporate social responsibility and efforts to create a sustainable environment and workplace across the globe.
No. 7: Merck & Co.
No. 15 in the DiversityInc Top 50. Also No. 10 in The DiversityInc Top 10 Companies for Supplier Diversity; No. 9 in The DiversityInc Top 10 Companies for LGBT Employees; No. 7 in The DiversityInc Top 10 Companies for People With Disabilities
The pharmaceutical company is best-in-class at its global employee-resource groups, which are varied, inclusive and coherently tie back to the business goals of the organization.
No. 8: Procter & Gamble
No. 25 in the DiversityInc Top 50. Also No. 9 in The DiversityInc Top 10 Companies for Recruitment & Retention; No. 5 in The DiversityInc Top 10 Companies for Latinos; No. 9 in The DiversityInc Top 10 Companies for Asian Americans; No. 5 in The DiversityInc Top 10 Companies for Executive Women; No. 6 in The DiversityInc Top 10 Companies for People With Disabilities
The consumer-products giant has global employee-resource groups, as well as global cross-cultural mentoring and active efforts to include LGBT people and people with disabilities in many locations.
No. 9: American Express Co.
No. 13 in the DiversityInc Top 50. Also No. 8 in The DiversityInc Top 10 Companies for Asian Americans; No. 10 in The DiversityInc Top 10 Companies for Executive Women; No. 10 in The DiversityInc Top 10 Companies for LGBT Employees
American Express’ global work/life flexibility is among the best. The company also increasingly excels at using its employee groups to understand local markets and reach customers there.
No. 10: Colgate-Palmolive Co.
No. 10 in the DiversityInc Top 50. Also No. 1 in The DiversityInc Top 10 Companies for Latinos
With 86 percent of its operations outside of the United States, the consumer-products company is a leader in global talent recruitment/development and multicultural marketing.
I am surprised and wonder why only one of The DiversityInc Top 10 Companies for Global Diversity is also on the DiversityInc Top 10 Companies for Blacks, and it is No. 7 of that group.
No. 10 on this list for Global Diversity is Colgate Palmolive, which is No. 1 of the Top 10 for Latinos, but is not in the top 10 for any other group.
Whereas AT&T is No. 1 in Top 10 Companies for Blacks, and it is No. 4 in The DiversityInc Top 50 Companies for Diversity. Also No. 3 in The DiversityInc Top 10 Companies for Recruitment & Retention; No. 2 in The DiversityInc Top 10 Companies for Supplier Diversity; No. 6 in The DiversityInc Top 10 Companies for Latinos. No. 3 on Top 10 Companies for Blacks is Kaiser Permanente, which is No. 1 in the DiversityInc Top 50. Also No. 4 in The DiversityInc Top 10 Companies for Recruitment & Retention; No. 2 in The DiversityInc Top 10 Companies for Latinos; No. 6 in The DiversityInc Top 10 Companies for Asian Americans; No. 4 in The DiversityInc Top 10 Companies for Executive Women; No. 3 in The DiversityInc Top 10 Companies for People With Disabilities
I am not African American, and I am not affiliated with any private company, nevertheless, I believe Diversity should re-examine its Top 10 Companies for Global Diversity.
Sincerely.
JGQ
Interesting that the accounting/consulting profession is so highly rated (KPMG, Deloitte etc)