When and why did Progress Energy make a commitment to diversity?
Excellence is what we’re all about at Progress Energy. It’s part of our culture and we strive for it in everything we do. We recognize that diversity needs to be an integral part of our culture, one that shows all employees that they are respected and valued and can therefore contribute up to their fullest potential. So, in 1999, we established the Corporate Diversity Council and conducted a companywide survey to identify issues that needed to be addressed. What has been the most satisfying result of your program? All of our employees have received diversity training and participated in discussion groups in which we talk about diversity in all of its dimensions age, gender, race, sexual orientation, disabilities, etc. Many participants weren’t even aware of their biases until we got into these discussions. Participants talk about their experiences, and they help each other learn about and respect people’s differences. How does Progress Energy measure its progress? Each year we conduct
