Whirlpool Corporation has once again been awarded a 100 percent score on the Disability Equality Index (DEI), making this the fifth straight year of receiving a high score. The DEI is the world’s most comprehensive benchmarking tool for the Fortune 1000 companies to measure disability workplace inclusion. In 2021, 319 corporations, including 67 Fortune 100, 164 Fortune 500, and 180 Fortune 1000 utilized the DEI to benchmark their disability inclusion efforts.
“The Disability Equality Index shines a spotlight on companies that believe they have a stake in creating a more equitable society for people with disabilities,” said President and CEO of AAPD Maria Town. “It is a conduit for our work championing disability rights for the 60 million Americans with disabilities and knocking down barriers to employment, technology and healthcare, and we’re thrilled to see the progress being made today.”
Inclusion and Diversity have been pillars of our global enduring values for a long time.”
The 2021 DEI measured Culture and Leadership, Enterprise-Wide Access, and Employment Practices (Benefits, Recruitment, Employment, Education, Retention and Advancement, Accommodations, Community Engagement, and Supplier Diversity). In 2021, following the global pandemic, the DEI was modernized to add new questions about innovative technology to advance digital and remote accessibility, mental wellness benefits, services for Deaf and hard of hearing employees, and flexible work options. Globally, those with disabilities represent over one billion people.
“Every day, with every effort, we strive to welcome, hear, respect, and value everyone at Whirlpool Corporation,” said Whirlpool Corporation Sr. VP and Chief Human Resources Officer Carey Martin, who is also executive sponsor of the AVID (Awareness of Visible and Invisible Disabilities) one of Whirlpool Corporation’s eight employee resource groups across the globe.
“Inclusion and Diversity have been pillars of our global enduring values for a long time, and we realize that our strength at Whirlpool Corporation is in our differences—different points of view, backgrounds, knowledge and experiences. We’re proud of the progress we’ve made for our employees with disabilities, and we remain focused on continuing to provide an equitable workplace for anyone who has an invisible or visible disability.”