ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1997, Roanoke Times
DATE: Wednesday, January 8, 1997 TAG: 9701080033
SECTION: BUSINESS PAGE: B-5 EDITION: METRO
DATELINE: NEW YORK
SOURCE: Associated Press
Allstate Insurance gives raises to managers who hire and keep women and minorities. Avon scours the ranks of its employees in Mexico for potential female executives.
For their efforts to advance women, the two companies Tuesday won the Catalyst Award, an annual prize given by the nonprofit Catalyst group as part of its efforts to help women rise in business.
Allstate Insurance Co. was honored for its in-depth efforts to hire and keep women and minorities. With the help of a quarterly employee survey, the Northbrook, Ill.-based insurer, with operations in Roanoke County, develops goals for increasing the diversity of its work force.
The company then links managers' merit raises to reaching diversity goals, and evaluates workers six months after they undergo diversity training. Allstate also keeps race and gender in mind when making some key appointments.
``We have women who are well-positioned throughout Allstate,'' said Jennise Henry, director of diversity and affirmative action at Allstate. ``But it's not something you can do overnight. It's a process that Allstate has been working on since the 1960s.''
LENGTH: Short : 33 linesby CNB