Corporate research
The fortune 500 company I want to look at is the state farm, a banking, investment, and insurance company that operates in Europe and beyond. This company boasts of sound diversity and inclusivity programs that they have adopted to ensure that nobody is left behind in its endeavor to provide services to their customers. State Farm is a service industry thriving in meeting its customers (“Company Overview – State Farm®,” 2020). To do this, the state farm has engaged itself in court cases to prove their worth and to walk the talk in Bloomington 2 July 2019. The company joined a court case as an interested party against the discrimination of the LGBTQ community. Over 200 companies supported equal opportunities for employment for all people (“Defending Diversity, Equality, and Inclusion | State Farm,” 2020)).
The court ruled in favor of the plaintiff that nobody should be discriminated based on their sexual orientation. The gay people, lesbians, and transgender people should be allowed to work and be valued for the work they do rather than their sexual orientation. To the state farm, this was a big win in line with their policy of inclusivity and inclusions. State farm becoming part of the proceedings that split the judges and the lawyers in the middle signaled a milestone achievement to the over 200 companies that wanted the court to give the direction on the discrimination due to sexual orientation. The three cases brought before the Supreme Court was particular on equality, inclusion, and diversity in the workplace. It can be argued, however, that the position of the state farm on discrimination comes from several lawsuits that the farm has had to deal with in its operation from the time the company started. An example of a court case that they had to pay the plaintiff 38000 dollars for racial discrimination in 2019 over some comments that Beavers, an employee of the state farm made against the plaintiff, might have made the state farm to tighten their defense on discrimination on equality, diversity, and inclusivity (Anderson, 2020).
The company has since been so vocal on equality, diversity, and inclusivity to the extent of being voted the best company has reduced discrimination in line with equality, diversity, and inclusivity since 2016. They have an inclusivity plan that is open for all to see.
The company has a mission of helping people manage the risks that occur every day in life. It enables them to recover from what was not anticipated and dream realization (“State Farm Mission – State Farm®,” 2020).
Being the customer’s first and best choice in products and services provided is the vision of State farm. From the vision and mission of the company, it is clear that equality, inclusivity, and diversity not mentioned. The statements are about how they are going to do business and make money but not on how they are going to bring everyone on board regardless of their race, gender, religion or other factors (“State Farm Mission – State Farm®,” 2020)
. The company seems lame when it comes to the vision and mission statements as far as inclusivity is concerned.
However, the company has a high strength when it comes to including the statement on inclusivity on its website: “DiversityDiversity and inclusion are central to what we do. It is evident in every relationship we have- within the workplace where all associates are treated with respect and dignity, across the market place by how we interact with our customers and suppliers and community through charitable giving and community service (“LGBTQ Relationships – State Farm®,” 2020).” The above statement, as written in the inclusivity concept, makes it at the forefront of inclusivity (Us & Inclusion, 2020). It is not only reflected in their words but also seen in their actions in court cases where they join a court case as a friend of the court. Inclusivity is also broadly explained in their website where their employees attest to their inclusivity.
The last part of the diversity and inclusion shows how relevant the company is to social responsibility. The company participates in charity and community service. Social responsibility is a perfect approach, and it improves the company’s image in the area where it does its business.
Including this on their website enables one to know their stand on discrimination in any manner. They are open to their inclusivity policy and can write it for everyone interested to find out about them can easily read it on their website. Hiding it means that they do not agree in the inclusivity or are just not curious.
The career and opportunity page has brought out the company’s position on discrimination against race, age, color, sex, religion, sexual orientation, national origin, disability, genetic information, gender identity, or protected veteran (Us & Inclusion, 2020). By so doing this, the company has closed every door of discrimination and can stand to defend their position on discrimination; they are proud that they can offer job opportunities basically to everyone who qualifies.
The company website has several mentions of inclusivity. The employees who push the agenda themselves seem to be of different races, communities, and sexual orientation. The company has been rewarded for its role in giving women opportunities to work with no discrimination (Us & Inclusion, 2020). The fact that they have won awards on inclusivity for several years means that they have mastered the art of inclusivity and that they are not letting it slip from their grip. The company has developed a mechanism that enables the employees to feel part of the company. Reducing discrimination in the workplace gives the employees’ confidence in the work and in the company itself.
The website has images of Chinese workers, African workers, and many other pictures of different races that truly reflect inclusivity in the workplace. The company has employees who are disabled but still work in the company. This shows that it has room for even those who are disabled as long as you are qualified and have what it takes to do the job. Diversity is an excellent marketing technique in the job market. Job seekers cannot shy away from the company as long as they are qualified.
From all the above analysis and research on the state farm company, I can clearly say the farm has excellent inclusivity policy and deserves to be recognized for their efforts in inclusivity (Us & Inclusion, 2020). The company’s behavior to take part in landmark cases that take about inclusivity even when they are not a party to the proceedings also speaks volumes on the company’s desire to bring everybody on board (“Defending Diversity, Equality, and Inclusion | State Farm,” 2020). Though the mission and vision statements do not reflect the inclusivity aspect, it cannot be ruled out that the company is not concerned with inclusivity. The company has categorically included the inclusivity clause in its operations. The company’s mission and vision statements should always be clear and to the point. So by making them clear and direct to the point, one cannot include everything in them.
The company’s awards due to inclusivity can also not be overlooked as the company has shown that it is doing what it can to make everyone part of it (Us & Inclusion, 2020). Most companies should follow this example of the state farm company with the inclusivity plan clearly articulated in the inclusivity clause and on their website. The company’s actions also show that they walk the talk.
References
Anderson, J. (2020). State Farm denied claims because of racial discrimination, the lawsuit alleges. chicagotribune.com. Retrieved 16 May 2020, from https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/ct-met-state-farm-lawsuit-racial-discrimination-20190503-story.html.
Company Overview – State Farm®. State Farm. (2020). Retrieved 16 May 2020, from https://www.statefarm.com/about-us/company-overview.
Defending Diversity, Equality, and Inclusion | State Farm. Defending Diversity, Equality, and Inclusion | State Farm. (2020). Retrieved 16 May 2020, from https://newsroom.statefarm.com/state-farm-stands-in-defense-of-diversity-equality-and-inclusion/.
LGBTQ Relationships – State Farm®. State Farm. (2020). Retrieved 16 May 2020, from https://www.statefarm.com/about-us/community-involvement/stronger-communities/national-community-relationships/lgbtq-relationships.
State Farm Mission – State Farm®. State Farm. (2020). Retrieved 16 May 2020, from https://www.statefarm.com/about-us/company-overview/company-profile/mission.
Us, A., & Inclusion, D. (2020). Diversity & Inclusion – State Farm® – State Farm®. State Farm. Retrieved 16 May 2020, from https://www.statefarm.com/about-us/diversity-inclusion.