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Remarks Prepared for
U.S. Secretary of Labor Elaine L. Chao
EVE/EPIC Awards Ceremony
Washington, D.C.
Thursday, November 8, 2007
Thank you Vicki [Lipnic, Assistant Secretary, Employment Standards Administration] for that introduction. I am so pleased to be here to help present these awards.
I’d like to thank Vicki, Charles [James, Deputy Assistant Secretary, ESA, and Director, Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs], and the entire staff of the Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs for putting on this event. We are grateful for your dedication to ensuring equal opportunity and fairness for America’s workers.
Welcome everyone, and thank you for being here. I would like to recognize Congressman Donald M. Payne. We are so glad you could join us.
One of America’s greatest strengths is its diversity. Our nation was founded by people seeking freedom and opportunity. And throughout its history, our nation has been a beacon of hope for men and women of different backgrounds who came here to build better lives for themselves and their families.
These organizations are demonstrating their commitment to strengthening diversity and equal opportunity for all. And while much progress has been made, there is always more that can be done. Advancing equal opportunity is one of the most important missions at the Department of Labor. And the Department’s Office of Federal Compliance Assistance plays a lead role in making this vision a reality by enforcing equal opportunity laws among federal contractors. This is significant because it represents nearly one quarter of all private sector workers.
And the Department is pleased to report that OFCCP is setting new records in protecting workers. In the last year alone, the Department recovered more than $51 million on behalf of over 15,000 workers subjected to employment discrimination. Since 2001, the Department has increased by 78 percent the amount recovered for workers who were discriminated against. During that time, the Department has focused its enforcement efforts on rooting out the most difficult and enduring type of discrimination, which is systemic discrimination.
Because most people want to work within the law, the Department has also reached out to provide employers with clear, concise, and easy-to-access information on how to comply with federal employment laws, including anti-discrimination laws.
The Department also recognizes the importance of workers knowing their rights. Labor laws can be very complex, and the Department conducts extensive efforts to ensure that workers understand their rights and obligations.
The awards we present today are very special because they showcase organizations that have chosen to promote a culture of diversity. They have made tremendous efforts to find creative and innovative ways for their organizations to proudly reflect the richness of America. So congratulations to all of today’s awardees!
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[The Secretary returned to the podium for the 2007 Secretary of Labor’s Opportunity Award.]
It is now my pleasure to present the Secretary of Labor’s Opportunity Award. This recognition is given to a federal contractor who has done the most to promote equal access to employment opportunity over the past fiscal year. Today, we recognize Raytheon Company for its innovative programs to ensure equal opportunity for its workers — 73,000 people worldwide. It does very important work by providing sophisticated electronics systems that help the defense community communicate and gather intelligence information.
Through a number of innovative EEO programs, the people at Raytheon have made diversity a priority. Diversity guides their hiring and retention strategies. By promoting worker understanding of cross-cultural differences, they have fostered a corporate atmosphere of inclusiveness. Through Employee Resource Groups (ERGs), they have provided a forum in which people can build networks to better share thoughts and ideas. And by conducting extensive community outreach, they ensure the recruitment of people from diverse backgrounds.
We have seen that diversity offers a competitive advantage in today’s global economy. Raytheon is working to foster an atmosphere where all workers feel valued and empowered to perform at the highest level.
Congratulations! And thank you for all you do to promote equal opportunity for America’s workers.
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