Southern Company outlines progress on diversity, equity, and inclusions initiatives
Southern Company released a report charting its progress on diversity, equity, and inclusion (DE&I) initiatives.
The Moving to Equity report details the company’s commitment, progress, and actions taken to further advance equity within the company and its communities. The report focuses on five key areas: talent; workplace environment; community investment and social justice; civic engagement; and supplier inclusion.
“Over the past three years, we have made great strides in advancing our Moving to Equity work,” Tom Fanning, chairman, president, and CEO of Southern Company, said. “Though we have made real progress, and I am proud of what we have accomplished, there is still work to be done. We will continue to be steadfast and persistent as we advance equity every day. We are committed to making this work a sustaining effort because, in the end, everyone will be better off for it.”
The report revealed that the overall representation of people of color and women increased from the prior year as outreach, recruitment, hiring, and retention of diverse talent remains a priority. In addition, the company expanded the initiative among employees with new groups focused on HBCU alumni, LGBTQIA+, and Hispanic/Latinx communities.
It also expanded its DEI training. Specifically, more than 60 percent of Southern Company employees completed at least one DE&I course in 2022.
Further, the company spent $2.1 billion on diverse suppliers, including adding 94 new diverse suppliers. It increased its spending with diverse businesses to 28 percent through 2022. Looking forward, Southern Company aims to increase its total diverse spending to 30 percent by 2025.
Also, Southern Company has committed $225 million through 2025 to advance racial equity and social justice in the company’s communities. More than $142 million has been invested in total since 2021, including more than $76 million in 2022.
