The Hershey Company Earns 100% on the 2024 Disability:IN Disability Equality Index for Second Consecutive Year
HERSHEY, Pa., July 18, 2024 /3BL/ - The Hershey Company (NYSE: HSY) for the second year in a row achieved a 100% score on the 2024 Disability:IN Disability Equality Index. As part of this score, Hershey was recognized by The American Association of People with Disabilities (AAPD) as a Best Place to Work.
"At Hershey, we believe that bringing together the ideas of belonging and business success is a powerful combination,” said Jason Reiman, Senior Vice President, Supply Chain and executive sponsor of The Hershey Company's Abilities First Business Resource Group (BRG). “Our continued recognition by Disability:IN underscores our commitment to creating a workplace where every employee is supported and empowered to thrive and acknowledges the foundation we have created to drive even greater impact across our business and the communities we serve. At the same time, we know we have more work to do so every voice is heard, every perspective is valued and every individual can succeed."
Disability:IN’s benchmark, established in 2015, is the most comprehensive tool for disability inclusion in business. It aims to make a positive impact on the unemployment and underemployment of people with disabilities by helping businesses create inclusive workplaces. Hershey’s continuous efforts to create positive change through its business initiatives that drove its score this year include:
- Recruitment and Employment Practices: Ensuring inclusive hiring processes, including people with disabilities.
- Supplier Diversity: Including disability-owned businesses in our procurement policies and training for employees making purchasing decisions.
- Commitment from the Top: Hershey President and CEO Michele Buck signed Diversity:IN’s CEO Letter on Disability Inclusion in 2023, committing to benchmarking the company’s disability inclusion journey.
- Talent Development: Enhancing internal practices and policies to support all talent, including people with disabilities.
- Training and Resources: Providing extensive resources and training for people managers on disability etiquette, language, accommodations, and unconscious bias.
- Community Partnerships: Collaborating with organizations like Susquehanna Service Dogs to foster an inclusive culture both within and outside the company.
"The Hershey Company’s consecutive top scores continue to showcase the company’s commitment to people and its understanding that we are stronger when we bring different perspectives and backgrounds to the table to create change,” said Jill Houghton, President and CEO of Disability:IN. “They serve as a true model for how companies can create inclusive workplaces that not only support employees with disabilities but also harness their unique talents to drive tangible business success.”
For more information about The Hershey Company and its commitment to disability inclusion, please visit The Hershey Company’s website.
About The Hershey Company
The Hershey Company is an industry leading snacks company known for making more moments of goodness through its iconic brands, remarkable people and enduring commitment to doing the right thing for its people, planet, and communities. Hershey has more than 20,000 employees in the U.S. and worldwide who work daily to deliver delicious, high-quality products. The company has more than 90 brand names in approximately 80 countries that drive more than $11.2 billion in annual revenues, including Hershey's, Reese's, Kisses, Kit Kat®, Jolly Rancher, Twizzlers and Ice Breakers, and salty snacks including SkinnyPop, Pirate's Booty and Dot's Homestyle Pretzels.
For over 130 years, Hershey has been committed to operating fairly, ethically and sustainably. The candy and snack maker's founder, Milton Hershey, created Milton Hershey School in 1909, and since then, the company has focused on helping children succeed through equitable access to education.
To learn more visit www.thehersheycompany.com.
About the Disability Equality Index®
The Disability Equality Index (DEI) is a comprehensive benchmarking tool that helps companies build a roadmap of measurable, tangible actions that they can take to achieve disability inclusion and equality. Each company receives a score, on a scale of zero (0) to 100, with those earning 80 and above recognized as a "Best Place to Work for Disability Inclusion."
The DEI is a joint initiative of the American Association of People with Disabilities (AAPD), the nation's largest disability rights organization, and Disability:IN, the global business disability inclusion network, to collectively advance the inclusion of people with disabilities. The organizations are complementary and bring unique strengths that make the project relevant and credible to corporations and the disability community. The tool was developed by the DEI Advisory Committee, a diverse group of business leaders, policy experts, and disability advocates. Learn more at: www.DisabilityEqualityIndex.org.
About the American Association of People with Disabilities (AAPD)
AAPD is a convener, connector, and catalyst for change, increasing the political and economic power for people with disabilities. As a national cross-disability rights organization AAPD advocates for full civil rights for the 60+ million Americans with disabilities. Learn more at: www.aapd.com.
About Disability:IN®
Disability:IN is a global organization driving disability inclusion and equality in business. More than 500 corporations' partner with Disability:IN to create long-term business and social impact through the world's most comprehensive disability inclusion benchmarking and reporting tool, the Disability Equality Index (DEI); best-in-class conferences and programs; expert counsel and engagement; and public policy leadership. Join us at disabilityin.org/AreYouIN #AreYouIN.
