Diversity, Inclusion & Work-Life
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Carlson is committed to an inclusive work environment that reflects our employees, our customers, and the communities we serve. Diversity and inclusion refers not only to ethnic background and gender, but to much broader dimensions that make us unique individuals. These include age, sexual orientation and work and life experiences. We realize that inclusion of different perspectives is a business imperative and will allow us to better service our customers and colleagues, and help us build better relationships.
To continuously build better and more inclusive relationships with employees, customers, owners and suppliers.
Our diversity vision:
We aspire to be recognized as a globally respected business that reflects the markets we serve by creating culturally rich work environments that mirror today's world.
Carlson honors its leaders with a poem from Dr. Maya Angelou
At Carlson's Imagination Summit in February, poet and author Maya Angelou told the story of her Uncle Willie in Arkansas, who raised her with values and capabilities that still serve her today, even with the limitation of a physical challenge. You can view the video presentation of "Crippled Willie," which Dr. Angelou dedicated to Carlson chairman Marilyn Carlson Nelson on the company's anniversary.
Diversity & Inclusion Initiatives
Carlson has established an Executive Diversity Council consisting of members from across the company to help achieve its diversity mission. We also have a diversity and inclusion committee whose goal is to engage employees and provide education and awareness through interactive events and communications. The committee has sponsored several activities, including events focusing on disabilities, sexual orientation and a variety of topics that celebrate our diverse employee, customer and supplier base.
Carlson is committed to developing our cultural competency by implementing diversity and inclusion training in all of our operating groups. Here is a snapshot of recent successful diversity initiatives:
In 2006, Carlson-owned and managed hotels implemented Sed de SaberTM (Thirst for Knowledge), an English as a Second Language program designed to teach Spanish-speaking employees basic vocabulary, hospitality terms, and concepts in English.
Carlson Restaurants Worldwide conducted consumer research among African-American customers to determine key customer growth drivers and completed a strategic growth plan for this market.
To enhance the comfort of guests with physical limitations, in-room assistive convenience kits are available in Radisson Hotels & Resorts®, Park Plaza® Hotels & Resorts, as well as Country Inns & Suites By CarlsonSM and Park Inn® Hotels with more than 120 rooms. These kits include a stepstool, a reaching tool, a bar to lower the closet clothes rack, and a device to retrofit the latch-hook on the door.
Work-Life Initiatives
Carlson acknowledges the uniqueness of each individual and understands the connection between personal life and work life, helping employees balance the two through various programs.
We offer alternative work arrangements for employees to develop customized schedules in order to meet their family and/or personal needs. Offerings include job-sharing, flex-time, compressed work weeks and telecommuting. Our employees and their families also have access to a comprehensive resource and referral program, Lifeworks, to help them balance their responsibilities at home and on the job.
Carlson provides a state-of-the-art child care center at its headquarters in Minneapolis. Serving more than 100 children and their families, the center has been accredited by the National Academy of Early Childhood.
