Diversity expert speaks at University of Chicago to fight discrimination

Tim Wise, a renowned writer, educator and anti-discrimination advocate, was at the University of Chicago on May 6 to raise students’ awareness about race and gender inequality in the U.S. Wise also told students how they can become part of the solution to end racism and gender discrimination in the country. 

In his talk entitled, “Affirmative Action, a Post-Racial Society, and White Privilege,” Wise pointed out that the ignorance of dominant social groups in our society is a persistent problem, which contributes to educational disparity in the U.S. Being part of a dominant social group means “knowing that what else others of our race do, we will not have to answer for them,” he said.

Wise, who is known for his strong anti-racism stance, also touched on the subject of gender discrimination during his talk. He encouraged his listeners to widen their view and understanding about race, sexuality and gender in order to reduce the problem of discrimination in the country.

Wise also dealt with a recent instance of racial discrimination in the University of Chicago, which involved posting of offensive contents on the Internet.

“If you think it’s OK to post anonymous homophobic, racist, sexist things…. You are not qualified to attend a university in the United States of America, especially this one,” he said in reaction to the incident.

After his talk, students said they gained new understanding of the issue of race and gender.

Wise is just among the many faces that combat discrimination and promote diversity in society and in the workplace. If you’re interested to find out more about this subject, visit diversityworking.com and see how companies and other groups promote diversity

Phillips 66 reports strong Q1 earnings

Phillips 66 announced this week that the company's earnings for the first fiscal quarter have more than doubled this year amid the persistently low prices of U.S. shale oil and natural gas.

The company's first quarter earnings jumped from $636 million last year to $1.4 billion this year, according to the report. Phillips 66 Chairman and CEO Greg Garland said this strong growth resulted from favorable refining and chemical margins.

"We also are investing in the continued growth of our business. Our plans for a new natural gas liquids fractionator on the Gulf Coast reinforce our commitment to the American energy landscape and highlight our unique opportunities across the downstream value chain," Garland said.

The company has stakes in 15 refineries. It also operates other businesses including Chevron Phillips and DCP Midstream.

Phillips 66 is one of the companies that support and implement workplace diversity initiatives. As a member of DiversityWorking, Phillips 66 ensures that its employees in all its facilities enjoy equal benefits and privileges in the workplace. Find out more about what Phillips 66 is doing to tout workplace diversity and inclusion by clicking through this link.

What diversity really means

The push for workplace diversity and inclusion has been going on for decades, not just in the U.S. but all across the globe. While most people think that the concept of workplace diversity is chiefly about creating an inclusive workplace for people from different cultural backgrounds, the idea is actually bigger than the issue of race and racial discrimination.

Workplace diversity means recognizing and respecting individual differences. These differences include several dimensions such as race, age, gender, sexual preference, ethnicity, religion, social status and even political beliefs.

But diversity goes way beyond these dimensions. It also means being open to people with different experiences, personalities, communication styles, physical appearance and level of comprehension or learning.

Diversity yields significant benefits to people, businesses and communities. Among many others, diversity allows a person to explore new cultures and backgrounds, which can be essential in his or her personal development. This cultural awareness gives people a deeper level of understanding about the world. It also helps people understand themselves and enables them to relate with others more effectively.

Several factors are important in achieving diversity, not just in the workplace but even in businesses, schools and communities.

The first step to achieving diversity is knowing a person’s traits, both the visible and the invisible. We must be very careful not to pass judgment on a person based on superficial traits such as a person’s clothing or even a person’s hairstyle. Judging others based on their outward traits creates a gap that could prevent people from creating bonds, business relationships or friendships. Thus, it is important that we get to know the person deeper before passing judgment.

After knowing the person, the next step is to welcome him or her into the community. Once we get past the person’s traits, we can freely interact with that person regardless of his or her cultural background, sexual orientation or appearance.

All in all, respect and acceptance are the foundations of diversity. To know more about this topic, visit diversityworking.com and see how U.S. companies and the government work hand in hand in promoting workplace diversity across the country.

Ark. official says ConAgra to add 50 new jobs

A new Associated Press report said ConAgra Foods is expanding its workforce in Batesville, Ark., as the company plans to produce a new variety of Marie Callender’s breakfast sandwiches. This move will generate around 50 new jobs at ConAgra’s facility in the city, a city economic official said.

Larry Jones, director of Independence County (Ark.) Economic Development, said this employment expansion will bring more green to the city as it generates new jobs. This move will increase ConAgra’s workforce at its Batesville plant to 310, Jones added.

ConAgra is one of the members of DiversityWorking that advocates equality and inclusion in the workplace. ConAgra provides equal employment opportunities to everyone regardless of gender, race or ethnicity. The company's initiatives in promoting equality, diversity and inclusion in all its facilities across the U.S. have proven to be a very effective strategy towards achieving sustainable growth across the board.

Click through this link to learn more about ConAgra’s diversity initiatives.

Hobby Lobby opens new store in Wichita, Kan.

Hobby Lobby, one of the U.S.’s leading providers of home decors and craft supplies, is currently building a new store in Regency Lakes Shopping Center in Wichita, Kan. The new 55,000-square-foot store is expected to open this fall, said Vince Parker, Hobby Lobby’s spokesman.

Deal broker Brad Saville, who is the president of landmark Commercial Real Estate, said Hobby Lobby’s addition to the roster of shops and retailers in Regency Lakes will contribute greatly to the shopping center’s marketability.

“I just think that’s going to help the other businesses in the area increase traffic to the shopping center,” Saville said.

Currently, Hobby Lobby has a total of 525 facilities across the country, providing more than 65,000 home décor products and craft supplies to home and property owners in the U.S.

As a member of DiversityWorking, Hobby Lobby touts workplace diversity and inclusion in all its facilities. All over the world, companies that promote diversity have the best chances of increasing their bottomline and improving their efficiency, thus resulting in bigger profits and happier employees. 

If you’re interested to learn more about diversity, you may visit diversityworking.com and see what Hobby Lobby is doing to promote workplace diversity.

Cabela’s Q1 net profit climbs amid gun control debate, opens new Colo. stores

Gun and outdoor gear retailer Cabela’s has reported a significant increase in its net profit during the first fiscal quarter amid the ongoing debate about gun control in the U.S.

According to the company, its total earning jumped by 29% to $802.5 million. The company also registered a 24% increase in same-store sales. Additionally, Cabela’s online and catalog sales jumped to $225.2 million, registering an increase of 18%.

All in all, the company said its total net income for the first fiscal quarter jumped from $28.8 million last year to $49.8 million this year, registering a total increase 73%.

This growth could be a strong indicator that the company’s diversity efforts are paying off.

In fact, the company is about to open two new retail stores in Denver, and the company has begun hiring around 450 people to man these new stores.

“We are looking for employees who will deliver legendary customer service to the thousands of loyal Cabela’s customers across the Colorado Front Range. It’s a unique career opportunity for passionate outdoorsmen and women, as well as anyone else who wants to join a dynamic, growing company,” said Senior Director of Human Resources Chuck Bera.

The stores will go online on Aug. 15.

“The opening of Cabela’s Denver corporate extension is a sign of our tremendous strong recent growth and commitment to expanding our digital platform initiatives,” said Cabela’s Chief Marketing Officer Scott Williams.

As a member of DiversityWorking, Cabela’s is committed to promoting workplace diversity and inclusion in all of its facilities across the U.S. if you want to learn more about the company’s diversity initiatives, visit diversityworking.com.

Microsoft expert encourages firms to hire women execs, engineers

Blaise Aguera y Arcas, a fellow at Microsoft Research, strongly believes that women will dominate the tech market in the future, and so tech firms should get as much women as possible on board in order to tap this potential market.

Speaking at a conference in Tel Aviv, Israel, Aguera y Arcas disclosed that based on his research, women’s incomes will most likely surpass those of men’s in the future as more women graduate from college than men. These findings debunk a current popular notion that students can stay out of college and still become successful, owing to the fact that several tech founders, including Bill Gates himself, never finished college.

"I've heard some nonsense that college isn't worth anything and it’s better to just found a startup. That's rubbish as far as I can see. All the data shows college earns you way more money over your career," he said.

By 2020, these women would have bigger incomes and more money to spend. The challenge for tech companies, then, is to lure these women into buying their products by designing mobile apps and gadgets that cater to women’s needs and preferences. Hence, companies should get more women on board in engineering, conceptualizing and even reviewing apps, gadgets and other tech products.

"If you can, hire women engineers and CEOs," he said.

Microsoft is one of the leading companies that promote workplace diversity and inclusion. Aside from valuing women as an integral part of the company’s success, Microsoft also promotes cultural diversity in its workforce.

To find out more about what Microsoft is doing to boost diversity, visit diversityworking.com.