MassMutual named to the Diversity Best Practices Inclusion Index

Recognized for creating inclusive workplace

New York, July 30, 2019 —Diversity Best Practices, a division of Working Mother Media, unveiled its third annual Inclusion Index. This index helps organizations understand gaps in demographic representation and creates a road map to drive internal change and solutions through proven best practices. Organizations provided data and were measured in three key areas: best practices in the recruitment, retention and advancement of people from underrepresented groups (women, racial/ethnic minorities, people with disabilities and LGBTQ people); company culture including leadership accountability; and transparency and improvement in year-to-year demographic diversity.

MassMutual was among the 80 organizations that earned a score of at least 60 percent and a place on the index. This year, 148 organizations participated in the Diversity Best Practices Inclusion Index, a 17 percent year-over-year increase. Results reveal opportunities for all organizations to target their diversity-and-inclusion efforts for greater effectiveness.

An index, unlike a list, does not have a set number of organizations to recognize. Instead, a threshold percentage is set, at which point any participant with that percentage or better qualifies for the index. One-hundred-forty-eight organizations applied, and 80 of those listed on the 2019 DBP Inclusion Index achieved at least 60 percent of the available points. Fifteen companies earned scores of at least 75 percent to qualify as a Leading Inclusion Index Company. In a new category this year for the highest-scoring organizations, 14 organizations are being recognized for superior achievement, qualifying as a top 10 percent Inclusion Index Company. Completed applications were collected online from December 2018 to March 2019.

"The Inclusion Index continues to grow as more and more organizations are willing to be transparent about their progress and workforce demographics," says Deborah Munster, vice president, Diversity Best Practices. "We applaud their D&I efforts and will continue to set a high bar in order to drive change and accountability."

Key findings from the 2019 Diversity Best Practices Inclusion Index are:

• Recruitment: While 100% of the top 10 percent mandate diverse interview slates, requiring diverse panels of interviewers remains less common at 71 percent—compared to 43 percent of all participants. Ninety-three percent of top 10 percent and Leading Index organizations train recruiters to ask culturally competent questions of diverse applications—compared with 86 percent of all participants.
• Advancement: 93 percent of the top 10 percent organizations have diversity in their executive succession planning—compared with 79 percent of Leading Index organizations and 61 percent of all participants.
• Company Culture: 100 percent of the top 10 percent organizations hold managers accountable for D&I—compared with 97 percent of Leading Companies and 75 percent of all participants. Sixty-four percent of the top 10 percent organizations compensate managers for diversity and inclusion results—compared with 55 percent of Leading Companies and 35 percent of all participants.