National Case Study: UPS

Company Description

UPS, the world's largest express carrier and package delivery company, operates in more than 200 countries and territories and employs 370,000 people worldwide. They are committed to the best interest of its employees.

Philosophy on Diversity

As stated in the UPS Charter, UPS believes that "people do their best when they feel pride in their contributions, when they are treated with dignity, and when their talents are encouraged to flourish in an environment that embraces diversity."At UPS, diversity is not about race or gender, it's about understanding other people's perspectives," says Mike Eskew, chairman and CEO of UPS. He recognizes the value diversity brings to his business and remains committed to maintaining a work environment where all employees are recognized for their unique contributions.

Diversity Implementation

UPS encourages a positive work environment through its Professional Conduct and Anti-Harassment Policy , which prohibits harassment based on race, color, sex, national origin, disability, sexual orientation, age or religion. Training is provided to all employees on this policy in their new hire orientation as well as throughout their careers at UPS. UPS also operates a toll free help line for employees who have questions about the policy or concerns about behaviors in the workplace. To better serve employees, UPS has developed Diversity Steering Council , co-chaired by UPS Chairman/CEO. They review company policies on equal employment opportunity and recommend ways to foster diversity throughout the company. They are an integral part of the process of diversification and act to steer the company in the right direction.

UPS's Community Internship Program was developed in 1968 as a way for management to immerse themselves into situations and environments that are unfamiliar to them. It is an unconventional, one-of-a-kind management-training program. It is a way for managers to become aware, gain understanding, develop sensitivity and get involved with the community. They believe that one of the best ways to train managers is to take them out of their offices and expose them to real situations and issues their employees, co-workers and UPS customers might experience in their day-to-day lives. The program is four weeks long and involves activities such as serving meals to the homeless, assisting staff at halfway houses, working in AIDs centers, aiding migrant farm workers, build temporary houses and schools and help teachers manage children in the Head Start Program. They do this in order to develop well-rounded individuals while at the same time bridging the gap between corporation and community.

Results

UPS is one of the most diverse workforces of any company in the nation. African-Americans, Hispanics, Asian-Pacific Americans and other minorities make up more than one-third of the company's 330,000 employees in the U.S. Minorities made up more than half of UPS's new hires in 2001.

UPS is widely recognized for its commitment to diversity. For the past five years, Fortune magazine survey has named UPS as one of the "50 Best Companies for Minorities." In 2003, UPS ranked #26. The survey ranks corporations on their commitment to hiring, promoting and retaining a diverse pool of talented employees. It also reviews companies' support of supplier diversity and philanthropic support of organizations that support minorities.

UPS also has long-standing partnerships with groups that support and advocate equal opportunity, including the National Urban League, National Council of Women, Organization of Chinese Americans, Japanese American Citizen League, National Council of La Raza and the U.S. Hispanic Chamber of Commerce.

The success of the UPS workplace can be attributed to their promotion from within the organization, primary ownership of company stock by employees and managers, their competitive wages and their ability to recruit people from different backgrounds and cultures to incorporate their experiences into the organization. Each fosters employee dedication and promotes a team effort in company operations worldwide. Employees find pride in the company and are motivated to enhance their work.