US Postal Service recognised for diversity

The U.S. Postal Service has been named one of the 50 Best Companies for Minorities for the fifth year in a row by leading business magazine FORTUNE. The Postal Service ranked sixth on the list this year. The rankings appear in the current issue.

“This is a great honor and I’m extremely proud of every employee of the Postal Service. Dedication to the values represented by diversity has helped us build an organization that is stronger because of it,” commented Postmaster General John E. Potter.

U.S. Postal Service

According to the article, the top 50 are firms that “make an effort not only to hire minorities but also retain them and promote them through the ranks. They actively interact with outside minority communities and management accountable for diversity efforts.”

FORTUNE gave the Postal Service high honors, noting that 59% of new hires were minorities. With 24% of its 50 top-paid positions held by minorities, FORTUNE noted that the Postal Service has one of the better records for making sure “diversity percolates to the top.”

“All of our diversity programs are active and alive,” says Diversity Development Vice President Murry Weatherall. “They’re being used day-to-day to further our efforts in providing an inclusive environment.” The Postal Service works hard to ensure that its workforce reflects the communities it serves.

The magazine contacted the nation’s 1,000 largest corporations and 200 privately held companies to compile data for the rankings. Its model considered information like the number of minorities in the workforce and on the corporate boards, the rate at which minority employees are hired, and whether managers are made accountable for hiring, promotion and retention.