5.24.2007 - 10:58am ET

(CSRwire) NORTHBROOK, Ill.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--May 24, 2007--Working Mother magazine today announced that Allstate is a 2007 Best Company for Multicultural Women. Now in its fifth year, the Working Mother Best Companies for Multicultural Women initiative celebrates employers that are establishing groundbreaking diversity policies and programs to encourage the hiring and advancement of African-American, Hispanic, Asian-American and Native American women.

"Allstate is making a difference in the way corporate America views diversity and its multicultural employees," said Suzanne Riss, Editor in Chief, Working Mother magazine. "They're holding managers accountable for helping workplace diversity thrive. We have the good fortune to live in one of the most culturally rich countries in the world, and Allstate recognizes that this richness is a workplace asset. Harnessing the wealth of talents and perspectives that people of different backgrounds have to offer is helping Allstate excel in our increasingly global and competitive world. Allstate is truly leading by example."

Profiled in the June issue of Working Mother magazine, Allstate is recognized for its unique programs for multicultural women, which are a part of the company's overall commitment to diversity. "Diversity is an Allstate business strategy and a strong part of our own corporate culture," said Anise Wiley-Little, Chief Diversity Officer. "Our company has grown by serving customers and welcoming employees who reflect the diverse marketplace which we serve. We continue to challenge ourselves to be appropriately represented by women and people of color in our general employee population, agency owners and within our leadership ranks."

Today, Allstate's workforce represents the diversity of Allstate's customers and the marketplace. Of the nearly 36,000-person Allstate employee workforce, 60 percent are women, and nearly 30 percent are minorities. More than 40 percent of officers and managers are women and nearly 20 percent come from one of five minority groups. Of the nearly 15,000 Allstate agencies, nearly 40 percent are women and more than 20 percent are minorities.

To support the development goals of its diverse workforce, Allstate provides continuous learning opportunities that include internal online learning resources and events sponsored by external vendors, business conferences, and professional associations. And in addition to required diversity training for new employees, Allstate provides tuition reimbursement for higher education and professional onsite courses to help employees grow and advance.

Other company benefits include:

-- Free child car seats for employees

-- Adoption reimbursement for new parents

-- Lactation programs for nursing mothers

-- Employee network groups

-- Onsite health seminars including smoking cessation and Weight Watchers programs

-- Well & Fit program

-- Onsite fitness center

-- Onsite oil changes

-- Discounts on insurance

The complete 2007 Best Companies for Multicultural Women--including profiles of the winning companies and more stories on diversity in corporate America--appears in the June issue of Working Mother, now available on newsstands.

Methodology

Working Mother selected the 2007 Working Mother Best Companies for Multicultural Women based on the detailed application completed by each company. Private and public firms based in the United States are eligible to apply for the initiative. Companies supplied 2006 data about hiring, pay and promotion of multicultural employees. Application questions cover workforce profile (such as number of women of color, women in top positions, top earners); culture (programs for women of color, manager behavior); external programs (diversity activities); and work/life programs (child care, elder care, time off following childbirth). This year, Working Mother gave the most weight to questions involving representation, recruitment and retention of women of color.

About Working Mother

Founded in 1979, Working Mother magazine reaches nearly 3 million readers and is the only national magazine for career mothers. Its 21-year signature initiative, Working Mother 100 Best Companies, is the most important benchmark for work/life practices in corporate America. The publication also releases the annual list of the Best Companies for Multicultural Women in the June issue. Working Mother is published by Working Mother Media (WMM), which also owns the National Association for Female Executives (NAFE), NAFE Magazine, the annual 100 Best Companies WorkLife Congress, as well as the Best Companies for Multicultural Women Conference and regional Town Halls. In 2006, WMM acquired Diversity Best Practices and the Business Women's Network, making Working Mother Media the largest media company in the country focused on diversity and the advancement of women.

About Allstate

The Allstate Corporation (NYSE:ALL) is the nation's largest publicly held personal lines insurer. Widely known through the "You're In Good Hands With Allstate(R)" slogan, Allstate helps individuals in approximately 17 million households protect what they have today and better prepare for tomorrow through approximately 14,800 exclusive agencies and financial representatives in the U.S. and Canada. Customers can access Allstate products and services such as auto insurance and homeowners insurance through Allstate agencies, or in select states at allstate.com and 1-800 Allstate(R). Encompass(R) and Deerbrook(R) Insurance brand property and casualty products are sold exclusively through independent agents. The Allstate Financial Group provides life insurance, supplemental accident and health insurance, annuity, banking and retirement products designed for individual, institutional and worksite customers that are distributed through Allstate agencies, independent agencies, financial institutions and broker-dealers.



Copyright Business Wire 2007

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