Accenture Named Diversity Initiative Achievement Winner

Diversity is a hot topic. Nearly every day, there’s a new article or study weighing in on the importance of having more diverse groups in the workforce. The problem is that diversity doesn’t just happen — it requires deliberate and sustained effort. In recognition of their “inclusion commitments to build a diverse and inclusive workforce,” among other efforts, Accenture (NYSE: ACN) was named the recipient of DiversityInc magazine's 2017 Top Company for Diversity award. From developing hiring strategies to fostering an inclusive culture for employees, this international management consulting firm has made diversity an organization-wide priority.

This year, Accenture had 45 percent of their U.S. workforce members who identify as a female or underrepresented minority in the United States, making it the most diverse company on our list. They also offer benefits not available to all employees, such as free onsite day care and assistance in finding highly-skilled overseas candidates. With these efforts, they've become a strong advocate for promoting diversity and inclusion at all levels of their organization while also acting as a leader in helping other organizations become more diverse and welcoming places to work.

While Accenture is our winner this year, there are several others that have also made great strides toward promoting workplace equality.

Company: Aetna

Best-in-Class Achievement: Aetna Ranked Top 50 of the World's Best Places to Work in 2017

Aetna ranked number 48 out of the 51 companies on our 2016 list. This year, they entered the top 50. Aside from their continued commitment to equality and diversity, they also demonstrated that their greatest strength may be toward a combined focus on career advancement and employee fulfillment and engagement. The company has also seen its turnover rate fall since our last survey, as reported by DiversityInc’s annual Best Companies for Diversity list published in 2016.

Company: Amazon

Best-in-Class Achievement: Amazon Ranks on the 2017 Top 10 for Technological Diversity and Inclusion

In 2016, Amazon did not rank high enough to make the list. However, this year, it ranked ninth. The company also has an impressive global presence, with offices in 14 countries around the world. But aside from their strong presence in international markets, we are also impressed by the variety of roles available within their workforce today as well as their continued support for a diverse and inclusive workforce. Additionally, they were recognized as one of America's Top Companies for Executive Women in 2016 and 2017.

Company: Alignable

Best-in-Class Achievement: Alignable Inc. Named a 2017 Top 10 Best Place to Work for LGBT Equality

Alignable has been named one of the 2017 Top 10 Best Places to Work for LGBT Equality, which factors in the legal protections and benefits for their employees and their commitment to diversity and inclusion. They have also been recognized as a leader in technology hiring practices, being named a Best Place to Work for Veteran Small Business Owners in 2015, 2015 and 2016.

Company: Airbnb Inc.

Best-in-Class Achievement: Airbnb Inc. Ranks on the 2017 Top 10 for Technological Diversity and Inclusion

Airbnb ranked on the list for the first time in 2016 and moved up to eighth place in 2017. The company has an impressive track record for being a diverse and inclusive employer. For example, 90 percent of its technical workforce is composed of male or female employees, and nearly half are from diverse backgrounds. Airbnb has also been recognized as one of the World's Most Innovative Companies by Forbes magazine. Furthermore, it was named to Fast Company‘s Most Innovative Companies list in 2015, coming in at number 21 out of 100.

Company: Amazon.com

Best-in-Class Achievement: Amazon Ranks on the 2017 Top 10 for Technological Diversity and Inclusion

Amazon ranks number 10 out of the 51 companies on our list. The company also has an impressive global presence, with offices in 14 countries around the world. But aside from their strong presence in international markets, we are also impressed by the variety of roles available within their workforce today as well as their continued support for a diverse and inclusive workforce. Additionally, they were recognized as one of America's Top Companies for Executive Women in 2016 and 2017.

Company: Assurance Capital Advisors Inc.

Best-in-Class Achievement: Assurance Capital Advisors Inc. Rated a 2017 Best Place to Work for LGBT Equality

Assurance Capital Advisors Inc. has been named a 2017 Top 10 Best Place to Work for LGBT Equality, which factors in the legal protections and benefits for their employees and their commitment to diversity and inclusion. They have also been recognized as a leader in technology hiring practices, being named a Best Place to Work for Veteran Small Business Owners in 2015, 2015 and 2016.

Company: Autodesk Inc.

Best-in-Class Achievement: Autodesk Inc. Ranks on the 2017 Top 10 for Technological Diversity and Inclusion

In 2016, Autodesk did not rank high enough to make the list. However this year, they came in at number six on our list of best places to work for diversity and inclusion. The company also has an impressive track record for being a diverse and inclusive employer. For example, 80 percent of their technical workforce is composed of male or female employees, and almost half are from diverse backgrounds. Additionally, the company has been recognized for its active support for LGBT equality as well as its commitment to hiring veterans, military spouses and military families.

Company: BlackRock

Best-in-Class Achievement: BlackRock Ranked Top 50 in the World's Best Places to Work in 2017

BlackRock ranked number 21 out of the 51 companies on our 2016 list. This year, they moved up to number 15. Aside from their continued commitment to equality and diversity, they also demonstrated that their greatest strength may be toward a combined focus on career advancement and employee fulfillment and engagement. Additionally, in 2016, BlackRock was named one of America’s Best Large Employers for the seventh year in a row.

Conclusion

We hope you now have a better understanding of how your company measures up against the competition in terms of diversity and inclusion practices, along with how you can leverage these practices and set your company apart from the crowd.

So, what’s next? We encourage companies to take a look at the 2017 Top 10 Best Companies for Diversity and Inclusion list, take an honest assessment of where they stand today and identify any areas for improvement. Remember, it is important to reflect on past practices and look forward to shaping new ones that will give rise to results for your workforce today as well as tomorrow.