David Hecker
General Counsel
With employees in the U.S. and approximately 70 other countries, and sales in more than 110 nations, SC Johnson manufactures some of the world's most recognized household brands-such as Shout, Windex, Ziploc, Glade, Vanish, Raid, OFF!, Pledge, and Scrubbing Bubbles. The company knows that like inclusiveness, creating powerful brands does not happen by accident. It believes that welcoming and celebrating the diversity of all of its employees makes SC Johnson a great place to work.
Under the direction of David Hecker, senior vice president, general counsel and secretary, the company has been successful in increasing the number of female and minority attorneys in the law department. Women attorneys total 38 percent and minorities represent 16 percent. This success results from the commitment of the law department to identify and consider a diverse slate of qualified candidates for each position.
The law department also supports company-wide diversity initiatives. Several attorneys belong to, and are leaders in, the company's business councils, and others have been selected to participate in a "mentoring up" program in which they share their unique perspectives with the company's officers.
Women employees and minority attorneys are also involved in the company's executive shadowing program in which they have the opportunity to observe first-hand a senior officer's business responsibilities.
The company has an Office of Diversity and a Diversity Advisory Team, which are dedicated to developing and implementing initiatives that help all employees contribute freely and effectively to the success of the business. Together with company management, the Office of Diversity ensures every employee is fully valued, so each person can reach his or her full potential. Additionally, its employee-led business councils allow employees to share personal insight as well as new approaches to diversity challenges.
(L to R): Thomas Sabatino, Jr., Baxter International; David Hecker, SC Johnson; and Veta Richardson, MCCA
Other company-wide diversity-related initiatives include a diversity leadership council comprised of officers, managers, and employees, which is chaired by the director of diversity. There is also a corporate supplier diversity program that extends the company's commitment to a diverse supply base.
SC Johnson ranked among the 50 best companies in America for minority employees for the fifth consecutive year. Noting the company's diversity efforts with employee and management training, Fortune magazine's "Best Companies for Minorities" special report also cited minority representation within internships at SC Johnson as being on the rise.
The company is one of the best companies in the nation for employee diversity, according to DiversityInc.com. It was the only Wisconsin-based company included in the prestigious national ranking of the country's best employers. The company was cited for its overall excellence and as one of the top 10 companies in the nation for executive women and Latinos. It has also been recognized as a best place to work by Working Mother and Hispanic magazine, and by organizations in other countries, including Argentina, Australia, Germany, and Greece.
From the November/December 2004 issue of Diversity & The Bar®