By: Melanie Berkowitz, Esq.
Allstate Insurance Company's commitment to diversity goes beyond words on a page. The company has made inclusive diversity a core value -- and it shows. In fact, Allstate's goal of "diversity as a business strategy" extends to every facet of the organization, including employees, customers, agents and suppliers. That's why the company considers itself to be "one company for all."
Insuring one out of every eight homes and automobiles in the United States means that Allstate's customer base represents a wide variety of backgrounds and needs. It makes sense that the company should bring that diversity inside its doors as well. "Diverse customer needs are best met by a similarly broad employee base," explains Jennetter Dobard, Senior Human Resources Manager. "Every employee counts at Allstate, which means the company can take advantage of a range of perspectives and ideas for how to best serve the customer."
As an example, Dobard notes that as their customer demographics have expanded and changed over the years, the company has evolved along with them. "Some customers prefer to buy insurance by phone, others over the Internet," Dobard says. "And some customers still prefer to meet face-to-face with an agent in their own neighborhood. We hire employees who understand and can meet the needs of our customers."
Diverse Recruiting: More than Just Job Fairs
Allstate's diversity initiative begins well before an employee is hired. In addition to attending traditional job fairs, the company uses multiple avenues to find and recruit the best talent. The result is a workforce that is at once resourceful and diverse.
A key component of Allstate's recruiting strategy is finding diverse talent. To achieve this, the company builds on its ties to the community to recruit a diverse and effective workforce.
"We have relationships with numerous colleges and universities and organizations such as the Posse Foundation, Inc. and also sponsor an internship program that leads to employment opportunities for the majority of participants," explains Ms. Dobard. The company also boasts membership on a number of boards that work with diverse professional groups such as the Association of Latino Professionals in Finance and Accounting and the Black Data Processors Association. The company also partners with organizations that serve diverse populations, including the Organization of Chinese Americans, Chicanos Por La Causa and the National Urban League. All of these relationships have proven to be useful in sourcing a diverse workforce. An added benefit: these collaborations allow Allstate to keep a finger on the pulse of the customers and communities it serves.
Diverse Communities Create New Opportunities
Allstate's commitment to diversity extends to its efforts to help small and diverse businesses grow. The company's supplier diversity program actively seeks out diverse suppliers to compete for existing procurement opportunities as seen on Allstate's YouTube Channel.
"Supplier diversity relationships are unique in that they truly benefit both parties," says Anise Wiley-Little, Assistant Vice President, Chief Diversity Officer. "The diverse suppliers that we do business with are also our customers. Minority, women, GLBT and veteran-owned businesses tend to hire diverse employees and in supporting these businesses, we support a growing segment of our consumer community and gain their loyalty. And by retaining qualified, diverse suppliers, we gain a distinct competitive advantage that can significantly impact our bottom line."
Diversity that Gives Everyone a Voice
Since 1987, over 40,000 Allstate employees have participated in the company's diversity training program, which is designed to help employees recognize and appreciate the contributions a diverse workforce can offer. The company has been recognized as a diversity leader by over 45 media and news publications for awards and recognition. It continually uses its employees' knowledge and experiences to grow its workforce in new directions, provide unique opportunities for small and diverse businesses and find better ways to serve its diverse customer base.
Employee Engagement is the Key
Allstate employees play a key role in the company's success as a diverse organization. Wiley-Little heads the company's Enterprise Diversity Leadership Council which oversees Allstate's entire diversity strategy. The Council encompasses nine employee-created and company-sponsored Employee Networking Groups. Open to any interested employee, the groups include the Allstate Network of Gay & Lesbian Employees & Supporters, Professional Latino Allstate Network, Asian American Allstate Network, African American Working Network and White Males Supporting Inclusive Diversity Network, as well as others. Groups such as these meet on a regular basis to provide a sense of community, discuss issues of importance to members, focus on business issues and, more generally, promote participants' professional development.
"Being a member of PLAN (Professional Latino Allstate Network) has allowed me to be involved within the company and has brought out a higher level of engagement," said Jorge Quezada, Product Operations Director. "PLAN has given me the opportunity to see how innovative people can be. The ability to be involved and engaged at a new level allows me to be a true ambassador for Allstate."