HP Nationally Ranked for Commitment to Diversity

In some ways, it’s easy to lose sight of the importance of a diverse workforce. Companies can sometimes get so focused on trying to balance the  makeup of their staffs that they can overlook the other reasons why diversity is so important. Too often, they focus their efforts on attracting and retaining  a specific group of people –  instead of the big-picture goal of building an employee base that fuels innovation and ultimately brings more talent into the fold.

But at HP, where diversity is part of the company’s DNA, inclusive hiring goes beyond bringing in more women, more people of color, or a broader range of experiences. And that’s why HP particularly proud of being recognized for its efforts to bring a sometimes-overlooked group into the mix—people with physical disabilities.

Today, HP received the highest possible score of 100 on the 2016 Disability Equality Index® (DEI) —a nationwide benchmarking tool that objectively ranks the biggest companies on their disability inclusion policies and practices.

The 2016 score, a 60-point improvement over last year’s ranking for the combined Hewlett Packard Company,  speaks to the commitment that HP has placed on attracting talent from diverse backgrounds.

Out of the 83 Fortune 1000 companies that participated in the Disability Equality Index, HP was among those listed in the DEI’s “Best Places to Work” list.

The recognition is nice, but that’s not why HP has made such a strong commitment to diversity. The company has long understood that a diverse workforce drives new business, ignites innovation and helps the company to attract and retain the best employees, Slaton Brown said.

“The inclusion of people with disabilities is core to our culture as well as the success of our business,” she said, noting that the DEI serves as a guideline for advancing disability inclusion. Through it, HP can analyze its strengths while also identifying areas of opportunity that exist across the organization.

In addition, it can also serve as a benchmark for HP to compare itself to competitors and other businesses.

In order to reach the highest rating, HP was measured on a wide range of criteria within four categories: culture and leadership, enterprise-wide access, employment practices, and community engagement and support services.

HP’s participation in the DEI promotes and advances disability inclusion policies and practices within the company, whch leads to better business and employment outcomes.

The DEI is a joint initiative of the US Business Leadership Network® (USBLN®) — a national non-profit that helps businesses drive performance by leveraging disability inclusion in the workplace, supply chainand marketplace—and the American Association of People with Disabilities (AAPD), a  national advocate of civil rights for the 50 million Americans with disabilities.

More information about the Disability Equality Index can be found on its website.