March 16 — Ford Motor Company was ranked No. 28 on The 2009 DiversityInc Top 50 Companies for Diversity® list, announced March 12. This recognition for its diversity and inclusion efforts is just the latest received by Ford Motor Company this year.
A perennial DiversityInc Top 50 company, Ford has remained a diversity leader even as its industry is in turmoil. It consistently has been the highest-ranked auto company because of its commitment to an inclusive work force and its strong community philanthropy," said Luke Visconti, CEO of DiversityInc.
A total of 401 companies, an increase of 14 percent from last year, vied for the honor this year, underscoring the increasing emphasis on diversity management among progressive companies.
As a key factor in Ford's success, Visconti cited its 11 strong employee-resource groups, which are used for talent development and to connect with customers. These groups include the Ford Interfaith Network, which Visconti called the model for inclusive religious employee groups.
Visconti also applauded Ford for its long-term commitment to supplier diversity. The company was ranked No. 3 on the DiversityInc Top 10 Companies for Supplier Diversity.
"We are honored to be recognized once again on the DiversityInc Top 50 list for our commitment to diversity and inclusion," said Alan Mulally, president and CEO of Ford Motor Company. "By intentionally including the diverse perspectives, ideas, and experiences of our partners around the world, we are better equipped to accelerate the development of innovative products and technologies that our customers want and value."
The DiversityInc recognition is just one of many received by Ford in 2009. Hispanic Business Magazine named Ford one of its Diversity Elite 60 Companies and a Top 25 Supplier Diversity Company. The National Association of Female Executives included Ford on its Top Companies for Executive Women list for 2009, and the US Black Engineer & IT Magazine named Ford a Top 25 Company for Diversity.
Methodology
The DiversityInc Top 50 Companies for Diversity list is a purely editorial process with no connection to business done with DiversityInc. It is determined entirely by a statistical analysis of responses to a 200-question survey. There is no fee to enter. DiversityInc Top 50 companies demonstrate consistent strength in four areas: CEO Commitment, Human Capital, Corporate and Organizational Communications, and Supplier Diversity. The list itself covers 19 industries, from consumer-facing companies to B-to-B's to industrial businesses. They range from small regional companies to global giants.
For more detailed information on our methodology, please visit www.DiversityInc.com/top50.
About DiversityInc
Launched in 1997, DiversityInc is the leading business publication connecting diversity and the bottom line, with 1 million unique monthly visitors. DiversityInc.com includes the largest diversity job board in the nation. DiversityInc also produces events and conducts benchmarking, custom research and consulting.
Key findings from The 2009 DiversityInc Top 50 Companies for Diversity:
- In the United States, the DiversityInc Top 50 hire 41% Blacks, Latinos, Asians and American Indians, compared with the U.S. work force, which is 32% Black, Latino, Asian and American Indian (BLS)
- 25% of DiversityInc Top 50 companies' managers are Black, Latino, Asian and American Indian, compared with 17% nationwide (BLS)
- DiversityInc Top 50 boards of directors are 23% Black, Latino, Asian and American Indian, compared with 13% nationally
- DiversityInc Top 50 boards of directors are 24% female, compared with 15% nationally
- One-third more DiversityInc Top 50 chief diversity officers now report to their CEOs than four years ago (28% vs. 18%)
- 88% of DiversityInc Top 50 CEOs personally sign off on executive compensation tied directly to diversity initiatives, compared with 72% in 2005
- All of the DiversityInc Top 50 companies now have employee-resource groups for their LGBT employees, 70% have groups for employees with disabilities, and 40% have generational resource groups. DiversityInc benchmarking customers seek data on employee-resource groups more than any other subject
- In 2005, less than 1% of DiversityInc Top 50 philanthropy went to multicultural groups; today, almost 25% does
- There has been a 50% increase in companies including supplier diversity in their RFPs (requests for proposals) since 2004 (60% vs. 90%)
