CHARLOTTE, N.C., July 25, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Duke Energy
today announced it has joined a national coalition of business
leaders pledging to advance diversity and inclusion (D&I) in
the workplace.
Launched in June, CEO Action for Diversity & Inclusion™
brings together more than 250 business leaders committing
themselves – and the organizations they lead – to take concrete
actions to foster a diverse and inclusive environment.
The CEO Action for Diversity & Inclusion™ represents nearly
70 industries, all 50 U.S. States, and millions of employees
globally. Organizations joining the pledge commit to taking three
initial actions: cultivate workplaces that support open dialogue on
complex, and sometimes difficult, conversations about diversity and
inclusion; implement and expand unconscious bias education; and,
share best practices with member companies.
"A diverse and inclusive culture is a critical asset as we
transform to better serve our customers and local communities,"
said Lynn Good, chairman, president
and CEO of Duke Energy. "Our employees don't turn off their
emotions when they come to work – and we don't want them to. We're
committed to creating a safe environment for them to share their
views because we've already seen how this can foster more
compassion and wellbeing among our employees."
Today's announcement reflects Duke Energy's long-standing
commitment to providing an inclusive environment where employees
feel valued and respected. Among the programs that Duke Energy
already offers to advance diversity and inclusion are:
- A 20 year-old network of Employee Resource Groups representing
African Americans, Hispanics, women, people with disabilities, new
employees, veterans and the LGBT community that work to address the
needs of employees, communities and customers.
- Diversity Councils that sponsor local D&I education and
awareness activities, and support our diverse customers through
volunteerism and community outreach.
- A series of facilitated conversations, called "Pathways to
Inclusion," hosted by company leaders in the wake of the civil
unrest in Charlotte, NC in 2016
that provided a venue for employees to discuss the recent events,
their impact and how we can move forward and create unity.
- An unconscious bias training program that was piloted with 75
leaders in 2016, with plans to expand in the future.
New research from the Center for Talent Innovation, a nonprofit
think tank, found that when employees can discuss the topic of race
relations at work, they feel significantly more included. With this
in mind, the CEO-driven pledge commits companies to work
collaboratively to advance diversity and inclusion in the
workplace, and in turn, improve corporate performance, drive
growth, and enhance employee engagement.
"We are so proud that we are continuing to build momentum and
support for the CEO Action for Diversity & Inclusion™ across
companies, industries and regions," said Tim Ryan, U.S. Chairman and Senior Partner of
PwC and chair of the steering committee for the CEO Action for
Diversity & Inclusion™.
Visit the online hub to learn more about the pledge, and connect
with the coalition on Facebook and Twitter.
Duke Energy
Headquartered in Charlotte, N.C., Duke Energy is one of the
largest energy holding companies in the
United States. Its Electric Utilities and Infrastructure
business unit serves approximately 7.5 million customers located in
six states in the Southeast and Midwest. The company's Gas
Utilities and Infrastructure business unit distributes natural gas
to approximately 1.6 million customers in the Carolinas,
Ohio, Kentucky and Tennessee. Its Commercial Renewables business
unit operates a growing renewable energy portfolio across
the United States.
Duke Energy is a Fortune 125 company traded on the New York
Stock Exchange under the symbol DUK. More information about the
company is available at duke-energy.com.
The Duke Energy News Center serves as a multimedia resource for
journalists and features news releases, helpful links, photos and
videos. Hosted by Duke Energy, illumination is an online
destination for stories about people, innovations, and community
and environmental topics. It also offers glimpses into the past and
insights into the future of energy.
Follow Duke Energy on Twitter, LinkedIn, Instagram and
Facebook.
Media Contact: Candice
Knezevic
24-Hour: 800.559.3853
View original content with
multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/duke-energy-joins-more-than-250-companies-in-unprecedented-commitment-to-advance-diversity-and-inclusion-in-the-workplace-300493572.html
SOURCE Duke Energy