Southwire 2021 Sustainability Report: Diversity, Equity & Inclusion
Southwire 2021 Sustainability Report
A focus on Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) is critical for Southwire and our continued success. We are committed to fostering an inclusive environment where individuals from diverse backgrounds are treated equally and feel comfortable expressing their thoughts and perspectives.
Over the last several years, we have prioritized and accelerated our internal and external efforts to provide fair and equitable opportunities. We believe every Southwire employee can make a difference, and we are committed to evaluating our systems, programs and practices to ensure all Southwire employees are supported. In addition, we work to understand where biases exist, and we take corrective action to address inequities.
APPROACH
At Southwire, we maintain an environment where respect and inclusion lead all we do. We also help ensure that all employees—regardless of their gender, age, cultural background, ethnicity, race, religion, sexual orientation, or any other identifying characteristic—have equal access and opportunity to learn, grow and succeed.
SOUTHWIRE DEI METRICS
We recognize the place metrics play in overall company accountability, helping to ensure employees feel empowered to participate fully and take advantage of growth and equity opportunities. We track a variety of internal metrics including average years of service, percentage of female employees, average age, percentage of employees from underrepresented communities (URC) and turnover of high potential employees. To further support accountability, we established a new internal DEI dashboard in 2021. The dashboard provides greater insight into company performance by tracking DEI metrics quarterly.
We took additional steps in transparency and visibility by changing how we calculate some metrics. Changes include moving from a broad measure of People of Color (PoC) to tracking our diversity progress on a person-by-person basis for individual ethnic minorities. This modification helps Southwire make more deliberate operational and business decisions, and it helps to establish a clear picture of progress across all diversity and inclusion domains. To better understand engagement efforts, we also began tracking overall participation in our employee resource groups (ERGs) and are considering including career band, location, gender and ethnicity metrics. Our employee engagement survey also helps us measure and track inclusion through the analysis of responses based on demographics.
In 2020, to support a more inclusive workplace for employees, communities and society at large, our CEO signed the CEO ACT!ON FOR DIVERSITY & INCLUSION. Our commitment is driven by a realization that addressing diversity and inclusion is not a competitive issue, but a societal issue. Throughout 2021 into 2022, we prepared for the launch of our The Power Behind the People™ DEI website dedicated to our mission of building and celebrating the value of diverse backgrounds, equity in opportunity and inclusivity in action.
STRATEGIC DEI FOCUS AREAS IN 2021
Southwire leverages seven strategic areas to help focus and drive our DEI mission, including Employee Resource Groups, external partnerships, talent development, supplier diversity, inclusive recruiting, Giving Back, and advocacy.
2021 SUMMER ENRICHMENT SERIES
Throughout August 2021, the Southwire Diversity, Equity & Inclusion (DEI) team hosted a Summer Enrichment Series that provided helpful tools, virtual events and learning opportunities. The series focused on our four fundamental values of empowerment, trust, consistency and inclusion. Key topics covered in the series included:
- Cultivating trust with peers
- Positive employee engagement impacts
- Fostering a diverse and inclusive work environment
Approximately 500 employees from more than 40 Southwire locations participated in 20 events, including knowledge bursts, keynote speakers, fireside leadership chats, speed mentoring sessions, podcasts and other resources from Southwire leaders as well as Wounded Warrior Project®, Catalyst, and Women in Manufacturing (WiM).
RESPONSIBILITIES
Governance and oversight of DEI efforts are led by the DEI center of excellence, newly established in Q1 of 2021, and Southwire’s DEI Director. While DEI has been a strategic priority to Southwire for several years, the establishment of the DEI center of excellence as a department fully dedicated to this space was a major milestone for the organization. In addition, our CEO DEI Council — comprised of Southwire’s CEO, his direct reports and champions from each ERG — and our Executive DEI Council — compromised of Southwire’s CEO, his direct reports, Senior Vice Presidents and key business partners — meet twice a year to provide updates and discuss DEI strategy efforts and programs at quarterly meetings.
As a signatory to the United Nations Global Compact, Southwire fully supports Principle 6, which states: “Businesses should uphold the elimination of discrimination in respect of employment and occupation.” We outline our commitment to equal employment opportunity in our Employee Handbook. We also cover additional non-discrimination measures in the Southwire Anti-Retaliation Policy, which prohibits retaliation for any protected activity, and the Pay Transparency Nondiscrimination Policy, which protects employees or applicants who inquire about, discuss or disclose their pay or the pay of another employee or applicant. To further encourage an inclusive workplace, we maintain an Anti-Harassment Policy and provide disability accommodations, religious accommodations and paid time for nursing mothers.
PERFORMANCE
Recognizing the opportunity to build more diverse and inclusive manufacturing leadership teams, Southwire partnered with Women in Manufacturing and sponsored employees to participate in the pilot of their Empowering Women in Production program. The 20-week program focuses on growing women with leadership aspirations, preparing them for the next step in their careers and developing a female operational leader talent pipeline. Southwire is excited to have graduated eight female leaders from the 2021 program.
Additionally, in 2021 we committed $325,000 in Giving Back funds to URCs. We fully utilized the budget and supported various organizations, including the Wounded Warrior Project, Women in Manufacturing, Atlanta University Center Consortium (AUCC), 100 Black Men of Atlanta, Catalyst and the Human Rights Campaign.
For more information on Southwire’s DEI initiatives, please visit https://www.southwire.com/dei.
