National Case Study: 3M

Company Description

3M employs 68,774 people in more than 60 countries. 3M is a $16 billion diversified technology company with leading positions in consumer and office; display and graphics; electronics and telecommunications; health care; industrial; safety, security and protection services; transportation and other businesses.

Philosophy on Diversity

3M believes the key to a diverse environment is attracting, hiring and retaining a diverse and talented work force. They work hard to sustain a workplace where individual initiative is rewarded, employee health and safety is safeguarded, and innovation is a way of life. Meeting employee and community needs are responsibilities of a socially responsible company and 3M realizes it. They invest in the communities in which they operate, providing jobs for local residents and supporting education, the environment, social and economic development. Supporting continuous learning and knowledge sharing to increase personal satisfaction, organizational dexterity and business results are important activities 3M has done to make it the company it is today.

Diversity Implementation

To bring diversity into the corporation, 3M employs a full-time manager of Diversity Staffing to provide direction and support to enhance the recruitment of under-represented candidates for employment. Diversity recruiting activities include providing leadership to ensure greater minority recruitment throughout the company and developing rapport with external organizations in order to increase minority-hiring opportunities.

3M has developed a Supplier Diversity Initiative, which utilizes small, minority-owned and woman-owned businesses for goods and services. 3M is committed to aggressively identifying these small, minority-owned and woman-owned sources for the goods and services that 3M needs.

3M encourages employees with similar interests to pursue those interests in a supportive environment, to build personal and professional development through forming groups. Employee resource groups such as 3M African American Society, the Women's Advisory Committee, 3M Plus (a gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender group) are sponsored by 3M under the direction of the HR Advisory Committee on Diversity.

Results

3M is opening the door to small, minority-owned and woman-owned businesses. In turn, 3M gains relationships, furthers business and positive word of mouth compliments. The result of making their company's programs diversity friendly has had a positive effect on the business & its culture. Employees are proud of their employment at 3M and gain personal satisfaction by contributing to 3M's diverse culture.