10 MAY 2019 • FOGHORN FOGHORNFOCUS: HUMAN RESOURCES Why Diversity and Inclusion is Imperative to Your Vessel Operation By Karen Rainbolt, FOGHORN Managing Editor C ongratulations! You’ve hired a team of excellent employees who are qualified to do the job you’re paying them to do. But, take a closer look at your workers.Are they a diverse group of people who represent the area you’re operating in and the passengers who ride your vessels? More than that, do all your employees reflect and embrace the corporate diverse and inclusive (D&I) culture and environment that you are aiming for? Diversity in the workplace is a growing issue that has many people talking and is getting a lot of attention in the media. Of course, there are also stringent employment laws that must be adhered to when choosing who to hire (see sidebar). Where Are We on Diverse Workforces? Required by law since 1966, companies with more than 100 employees must file an Employer Information Report EEO-1 with the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC). In 2013, approximately 70,000 employers filed reports in- dicating the composition of their workforce by sex, race/ethnicity, and major job categories. A few observations from the American Experiences versus American Expectations report found: • In 1966, African-Americans, Hispanics, and Asian-Americans each made up less than one percent of senior-level positions. Since then, the participation rates for all three groups have increased by five to seven times. • The participation rate of women in the professionals category has skyrocketed from roughly 14 percent in 1966 to more than 53 percent in 2013. But, the same EEOC report showed there’s more work to be done: • Women and minorities remain con- centrated, or segregated, in lower paying positions. In 2013: • Hispanics composed 20.5 percent of service workers and 29.2 percent of Laborers, yet they were only 5.7 percent of professionals and 7.4 percent of officials and managers. • African-Americans composed 23.3 percent of service workers and 18.7 percent of laborers, yet they were only 7.6 percent of profession- als and 6.8 percent of officials and managers. Why Diversity Really Matters Aside from the public image and legal concerns, it’s important to note that case studies and research have shown that the more diverse its workforce, the more successful a company is. McKinsey & Company is a global management consulting firm with more than 90 years of experience under its belt. In 2015, the firm released a report, Diversity Matters, which examined data