HERSHEY,
Pa., July 11, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The
Hershey Company (NYSE: HSY) is proud to share that it received
a 100 percent score on the Disability Equality Index® (DEI) and is
recognized as a DEI Best Place to Work for Disability
Inclusion.
The DEI was launched in 2015 by Disability:IN and The American
Association of People with Disabilities (AAPD) and is acknowledged
today as the most robust disability inclusion assessment tool in
business. Now in its seventh year, the DEI exists to help
businesses make a positive impact on the unemployment/
underemployment of people with disabilities.
"The Hershey Company has a long-standing commitment to fostering
an inclusive environment where all employees around the world can
be their authentic selves as they work to bring more moments of
goodness to our consumers," said Jason
Reiman, Senior Vice President for Supply Chain and executive
sponsor of The Hershey Company's Abilities First Business Resource
Group (BRG). "This starts with our hiring practices and extends to
each area of our business to create a positive impact on our
business and communities around the world."
Diversity is a source of energy and innovation at The Hershey
Company. The company's work to advance disability inclusion is
evidenced by:
- Progressing a five-year inclusion agenda, including differently
abled people, is key to the company's business growth strategy and
employee experience.
- Including disability inclusion in recruitment, employment,
supplier and accommodation practices.
- Enhanced internal practices and policies around talent
development to maintain disability, gender representation and
expand people of color representation, including our unique
Pathways to Growth accelerated development training program for
diverse cohorts in early career talent.
- Embedding supplier diversity (including people with
disabilities-owned businesses) in our official procurement policy
and mandatory training for all employees responsible for making
purchasing decisions.
- Diversity ranges in the performance evaluations, including
senior leadership and the executive committee.
- Expanded resources for people manager training including but
not exclusive to etiquette, language, accommodations and health
services, and unconscious bias training.
- Posting employment opportunities on DiversityJobs.com with
DisabilityJobs.net, the office of Vocational Rehabilitation and
Getting Hired, as well as abilitiesinjobs.com,
disabledjobseekers.com, disabledperson.com and JOFDAV.com.
- Collaborating with our Abilities First Business Resource Group
(BRG) to provide a space for employees to discuss new business
opportunities, influence company policy and develop employees and
communities where we do business.
- Partnering with the Pennsylvania-based non-profit Susquehanna
Service Dogs (SSD) to strengthen an inclusive culture and foster a
community that is welcoming to all people.
"Businesses have the power to drive the global advancement of
disability inclusion, and we're thrilled to see more companies than
ever leverage the Disability Equality Index to measure their
progress. We recognize these top-scoring companies as a 'Best Place
to Work for Disability Inclusion' for their passion and efforts to
lead the way in creating greater equity for people with
disabilities in the workplace, marketplace and supply chain," said
Jill Houghton, President and CEO of
Disability:IN.
"These top-scoring companies understand deeply that people with
disabilities represent a tremendous source of talent and innovation
for their workforce and market share for their brands, and they are
trailblazers in our journey towards full disability inclusion in
business," said Maria Town,
President and CEO of AAPD.
About The Hershey Company
The Hershey Company is headquartered in Hershey, Pennsylvania and is an
industry-leading snacks company known for making more moments of
goodness through its iconic brands, remarkable people, and enduring
commitment to doing the right thing for its people, planet, and
communities. Hershey has nearly 20,000 employees in the U.S. and
around the world who work every day to deliver delicious,
high-quality products. The company has more than 100 brand names in
approximately 80 countries worldwide that drive more than
$10.4 billion in annual revenues,
including Hershey's, Reese's,
Kit Kat®, Jolly Rancher and Ice
Breakers, and fast-growing salty snacks
including Skinny Pop, Pirate's
Booty, and Dot's Homestyle Pretzels.
For more than 125 years, Hershey has been committed to operating
fairly, ethically, and sustainably. The candy and snack maker's
founder, Milton Hershey, created
Milton Hershey School in 1909 and
since then the company has focused on helping children succeed
through equitable access to education.
About the Disability Equality Index®
The Disability Equality Index (DEI) is a comprehensive
benchmarking tool that helps companies build a roadmap of
measurable, tangible actions that they can take to achieve
disability inclusion and equality. Each company receives a score,
on a scale of zero (0) to 100, with those earning 80 and above
recognized as a "Best Place to Work for Disability Inclusion."
The DEI is a joint initiative of the American Association
of People with Disabilities (AAPD), the nation's largest disability
rights organization, and Disability:IN, the global business
disability inclusion network, to collectively advance the inclusion
of people with disabilities. The organizations are complementary
and bring unique strengths that make the project relevant and
credible to corporations and the disability community. The tool was
developed by the DEI Advisory Committee, a diverse group of
business leaders, policy experts, and disability advocates. Learn
more at: www.DisabilityEqualityIndex.org.
About the American Association of People with Disabilities
(AAPD)
AAPD is a convener, connector, and catalyst for change,
increasing the political and economic power for people with
disabilities. As a national cross-disability rights organization
AAPD advocates for full civil rights for the 60+ million Americans
with disabilities. Learn more at: www.aapd.com.
About Disability:IN®
Disability:IN is a global organization driving disability
inclusion and equality in business. More than 500 corporations'
partner with Disability:IN to create long-term business and social
impact through the world's most comprehensive disability inclusion
benchmarking and reporting tool, the Disability Equality Index
(DEI); best-in-class conferences and programs; expert counsel and
engagement; and public policy leadership. Join us at
disabilityin.org/AreYouIN #AreYouIN.
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SOURCE The Hershey Company