Raytheon Missile Systems: Valuing Disability as Part of Diversity
Raytheon Missile Systems in Tucson, Arizona, a leader in the design, development and production of missile systems, actively recruits, supports and empowers employees with disabilities as part of the company’s commitment to a diverse workforce or more than 11,000 people. Strategies include a Talent Acquisition Organization through which employees with disabilities bring new employees on board, a buddy system for new employees, a mentoring program and a career development Web site. The company’s culture includes such standards as, for deaf and hard-of-hearing employees, two full-time sign language interpreters, captioning on all training and Web-based materials, and text pagers to dispatch all safety and program-related audio announcements. In 2006, the Secretary of Labor and ODEP recognized Raytheon Missile Systems with a New Freedom Initiative Award for demonstrating exemplary and innovative efforts in furthering the employment and workplace environment for people with disabilities.
