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BellSouth Named One Of The Best Companies For Minorities
BellSouth Named One Of The Best Companies For Minorities
Published 07-06-00
Submitted by BellSouth Corporation
For the second year in a row, BellSouth Corp. (NSYE:BLS) has been named one of the top 25 employers in the U.S. for minorities by Fortune Magazine. The survey, which will appear in the July 10 issue of Fortune, ranks BellSouth 21st out of the companies surveyed across the U.S.
"We have made a dedicated effort to consistently improve diversity in our workplace. We've made progress; we have more work to do," said Duane Ackerman, BellSouth chairman and CEO.
"We believe that promoting diversity is essential to our success. We also recognize that a diverse workplace makes for a broader, richer environment that produces more creative thinking and solutions, resulting in a stronger company."
In its coverage, Fortune cites BellSouth's increase in the percentages of minority new hires and officials as part of the reason for its ranking. BellSouth hired more than 18,000 employees in 1999 of which 41 percent were minorities. Among other initiatives, the company also increased its purchasing with minority owned businesses by more than 50 percent.
"Our customers come from diverse markets throughout the U.S. and world," said Ackerman. "To help understand the demands of this marketplace, we are developing a workforce that reflects that diversity throughout all areas of our business."
BellSouth is a communications services company with more than $25 billion in annual revenues. It provides telecommunications services, Internet, data and e-commerce applications, wireless communications, entertainment services, and online and directory advertising to nearly 39 million customers in 20 countries worldwide.
