Argonne wins Diversity and Multiculturalism Best Practices award

ARGONNE, Ill. (July 6, 2005) – The U.S. Department of Energy's Argonne National Laboratory won the Diversity and Multiculturalism Best Practices award – one of the top 10 “Elite” awards of Chicago's Best and Brightest Companies to Work For – presented by the National Association for Business Resources. The awards recognize companies that use innovative practices and tools in human resources activities.

The Diversity and Multiculturalism Best Practices award focuses on the "extent to which the organization is open and inclusive to people of differing human qualities, promotes a tolerant work environment, and considers diversity and multiculturalism to be a competitive advantage."  

"This is good news for Argonne and recognition of the laboratory's efforts to leverage the talents of all our employees by supporting diversity," said Carol Quinn, Argonne 's director of human resources.  "It is one more acknowledgement that Argonne is truly an 'Employer of Choice.'"   

The full list of top 10 Elite winners and their categories are:

• Communication – Banco Popular North America
• Community Initiatives – Foote Cone & Belding
• Compensation and Benefits – Diamond Cluster International, Inc
• Diversity and Multiculturalism – Argonne National Laboratory
• Employee Education and Development – General Growth Properties, Inc
• Employee Engagement & Commitment – Griffin , Kubik, Stephens, & Thompson, Inc
• Recognition and Retention – HarleyEllis
• Recruitment and Selection – VW Credit, Inc.
• Work-Life Balance – Crowe Chizek and Company LLC
• "Best of the Best" Award – Ernst & Young, LLP

The Elite awards are designed to showcase the top companies in Chicago that represent industries as diverse as hospitality, manufacturing and not-for-profit. Sponsors of the program include the Chicago Sun-Times, DaimlerChrysler, the Management Association of Illinois, and Illinois Institute of Technology's Center for Research and Service.

The Best and Brightest Companies to Work For in Chicago is the NABR's way of recognizing successful and efficient companies.

The NABR is a newly formed organization that advocates and represents small and medium sized businesses throughout the United States . NABR specializes in providing businesses the benefits, programs, services, and assistance required to operate as efficiently and successfully as possible. Best practice solutions are available to members in the areas of human resources, healthcare, legal, transaction, compliance, marketing, and office services.

Argonne National Laboratory brings the world's brightest scientists and engineers together to find exciting and creative new solutions to pressing national problems in science and technology. The nation's first national laboratory, Argonne conducts leading-edge basic and applied scientific research in virtually every scientific discipline. Argonne researchers work closely with researchers from hundreds of companies, universities, and federal, state and municipal agencies to help them solve their specific problems, advance America 's scientific leadership and prepare the nation for a better future. With employees from more than 60 nations, Argonne is managed by UChicago Argonne, LLC for the U.S. Department of Energy's Office of Science.

For more information, please contact Steve McGregor (630/252-5580 or media@anl.gov) at Argonne.