The Aerospace Corporation Receives Department of Labor's Exemplary Voluntary Efforts Award
EL SEGUNDO, Calif. (2/19/04) -- The Aerospace Corporation today received an Exemplary Voluntary Efforts, or EVE, Award from United States Department of Labor Secretary Elaine L. Chao at a ceremony in Washington, D.C.
The Labor Department presents EVE Awards each year to federal contractors with exceptional equal opportunity programs. The Aerospace Corporation is one of four companies to be honored with EVE Awards this year.
Accepting the award for Aerospace in the Labor Department's Frances Perkins Building were Jon H. Bryson, senior vice president, National Systems Group, and Mary M. Waller-Simmons, administrator of the company's EEO and Diversity programs.
"The Department chose The Aerospace Corporation from a field of very impressive nominees," stated Charles E. James Sr., deputy assistant secretary for Federal Contract Compliance, in a letter to Aerospace President and CEO William F. Ballhaus Jr. announcing the company's selection. "The Aerospace Corporation has made outstanding efforts to develop and maintain exemplary EEO programs. Through recognition of EEO programs such as those maintained by The Aerospace Corporation, the Department will encourage other contractors to provide equal opportunity to all American workers."
"We are extremely pleased to be recognized for our efforts to make diversity and equal opportunity cornerstones of our employment policies and practices," said Ballhaus. "We value diversity and recognize its strength and effectiveness as a business value tied directly to the health and vitality of our company. The programs we have established as a commitment to these beliefs, and the results achieved, are testimony to the high standards we have set and which we maintain."
Valuing Diversity
The Aerospace Corporation has a long history of valuing diversity. In 1972 the company established the Aerospace Diversity Action Committee, then called the Equal Opportunity Committee, to address changes in demographics and promote practices consistent with civil rights legislation and equal employment practices.
This committee comprises representatives of seven affinity groups, which act on behalf of minorities within the company. These groups include:
- The Aerospace Asian-American Association
- The Aerospace Black Caucus
- The Aerospace Hispanic-American Caucus
- The Aerospace Lambda Alliance
- The Aerospace Women's Committee
- The Totally Adaptable Group
- The Aerospace Veterans Committee
The Diversity Action Committee meets monthly to address current issues in diversity management and recommends diversity and EEO programs, practices and objectives to the company's executive council and the Diversity and EEO Programs Office, which was established to intensify focus in these areas.
"With the establishment of the Diversity and EEO Programs Office under the office of the president, the company affirmed its position as a progressively responsive corporate citizen and established the infrastructure to make new advances in these areas," said Waller-Simmons.
As an example, she pointed out that the office has instituted corporate-wide quarterly self-audit processes and managers are held accountable for implementation of all affirmative action and equal employment efforts in their areas, she said.
In addition to being recognized by the Labor Department, The Aerospace Corporation was recognized by AARP in both 2002 and 2003 as being one of the top employers in the nation for workers over 50.
