5.04.2006 ET

(CSRwire) ABBOTT PARK, Ill.- Abbott has been named a "Top 10 company" for overall diversity for the third consecutive year from DiversityInc in the annual list of the "Top 50 Companies for Diversity."

At Abbott, the company strives to attract and retain the best talent by integrating diversity into every aspect of its culture and business practices. Inclusion concepts are woven throughout leadership training to foster the innovation needed to build strong leaders and drive superior results.

Today, minorities make up more than one-quarter (26 percent), and women nearly one half (47 percent) of Abbott's total U.S. workforce. Abbott's commitment starts at the top with an Executive Inclusion Council, which is chaired by Abbott's Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Miles D. White. Abbott has established seven employee networks in an effort to help develop great leaders within the company. All of these networks are founded and managed by employees, and their work includes: career and leadership development, mentoring and creating an informal network.
"Abbott's commitment to diversity starts with its CEO and extends to all aspects of its business," said Luke Visconti, partner and cofounder of DiversityInc. "As a Top 10 company, Abbott demonstrated excellence in diversity-management practices. The company's commitment to diversity is exceptional among other companies in the health care industry as it is the highest ranked pharmaceutical and medical products company to make the list."

About DiversityInc

DiversityInc is published by Allegiant Media, a privately owned company with no outside investors. Launched in 2002 as an extension of DiversityInc.com, DiversityInc magazine is the nation's leading source of information for cutting-edge knowledge of the business case for diversity. DiversityInc magazine offers readers more in-depth articles and substantive analysis, building on the company's history as the premier expert on reporting and analyzing diversity issues and their impact on U.S. business and society.

The complete list of recognized companies is published online at www.DiversityInc.com and will be in the June issue of DiversityInc magazine, a Web site and publication that reports on diversity issues.

Abbott's Rankings

Abbott's long-standing commitment to workplace diversity and inclusion has helped the company earn recognition as one of the "Top 50 Companies for Black MBAs to Work" based on survey research conducted via a questionnaire focused on company diversity from Black MBA magazine. This survey was administered to 1,551 companies, most of which were Fortune 1000 corporations.

Abbott has also earned recognition as one of the "100 Best Companies for Working Mothers" by Working Mother magazine in 2005. In addition, Abbott has been named to The Scientist magazine's list of "Best Places to Work in Industry" and Princeton Review's "Best Entry Level Jobs." FORTUNE has also recognized Abbott as one of "America's Most Admired Companies" every year since the list's inception in 1983.

About Abbott

Abbott is a global, broad-based health care company devoted to the discovery, development, manufacture and marketing of pharmaceuticals and medical products, including nutritionals, devices and diagnostics. The company employs 60,000 people and markets its products in 130 countries.

Abbott's news releases and other information are available on the company's Web site at www.abbott.com.

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