Diversity at Allstate

Numbers don’t lie. It’s an axiom of business. Which helps explain why inclusive diversity as a business strategy — one that drives relationships with employees, customers, suppliers and communities — has become more prominent in multicultural America. And Allstate has been among the leaders.

Inclusive Diversity

To us, inclusive diversity means embracing, and capitalizing on, all the differences we encounter every day. In an increasingly diverse marketplace, we see it as a strategic business imperative. In a world where opportunities and aspirations continue to grow, we consider it a core value.

Diversity goes far beyond gender, ethnicity and religion. It encompasses every possible combination of people and places, backgrounds and values. Allstate serves 16 million households, each one unique.

We employ over 32,000 people, each with particular skills and strengths. And in partnership with nearly 13,000 agency owners and financial representatives, we serve thousands of communities, each with its own character and needs. Inclusive diversity isn't a single goal, a single program.

For customers, it means being understood for who they are, how they live and what they need.
For employees and agencies, it means being fully valued and supported.
For leaders, it means bringing out the best in qualified people from all backgrounds.
For communities, it means partnering on issues important to all.

For Allstate, inclusive diversity also means achieving our business goals. It creates competitive advantage in good and growing markets. It keeps us more in tune and in touch with our diverse customer base. It energizes employees, improves productivity and sparks innovation. It leads to more jobs, better communities and greater growth for Allstate.

Diversity Strategy

Our diversity strategy is set by the CEO and our Enterprise Diversity Leadership Council and implemented by our Chief Diversity Officer. Over the years, our commitment to inclusion and diversity has been recognized by more than 45 media publications and associations that monitor diversity and workplace issues. To learn more look at the Awards and Recognition we receive annually for our programs.

Workforce Diversity

Within our workforce, inclusive diversity is key to creating a high-performance culture. Hiring and retaining high-value employees from diverse backgrounds helps us develop and market high-value products that meet diverse needs, which in turn helps us attract and retain high-value customers from diverse markets.

So we promote inclusion, work/life balance, dignity and respect, lifelong learning, commitment to appropriate representation, and leveraging differences to strengthen innovation and creativity.

We provide diversity education, career advancement and development options, accountability measurement, mentoring programs and support networks to all employees. Our benefits package offers a cafeteria plan of options, reflecting the value Allstate places on employees' diverse needs.

Among Allstate's employees, nearly 60 percent are women, and more than 30 percent are minorities. More than 40 percent of officers and managers are women and 27 percent come from one of five minority groups.

Employee Network Groups

Across Allstate, employees connect with each other and build relationships through Employee Network Groups — organizations of employees with common interests that are officially recognized by the company. Groups are organized around special interests but are open to all employees.
AWIN - Allstate Women's Information Network
PLAN - Professional Latino Allstate Network
3AN - Allstate Asian American Network
ANGLES - Allstate Network of Gay and Lesbian Employees and Supporters
AAWN - African American Working Network
AAN - Allstate Adoption Network
White Male Engagement Supporting Inclusive Diversity
YPO - Young Professionals Organization

Agency Diversity

Like the company they represent, Allstate's agencies profit from the strategy of inclusive diversity. Among Allstate agency owners, more than 20 percent are women and nearly 20 percent are minorities. The company also is actively promoting a greater agency presence in areas with fast-growing multicultural populations.

Supplier Diversity

Small and diverse businesses are the engine of the American economy, generating economic growth, jobs, training and innovation. To help support such companies, in 2004 Allstate established a program that actively seeks out diverse suppliers and invites them to compete for our existing procurement spend opportunities.

The program is led by a dedicated full-time senior-level executive, integrated across all levels of the company. When procurement spend opportunities arise, Allstate managers scan the marketplace for qualified diverse suppliers and urge them to investigate the opportunity with Allstate. If the suppliers accept, they enter Allstate's rigorous procurement spend process alongside all competing vendors. And if they win, they win on merit.

To further broaden our diverse supplier base, Allstate in recent years has hosted Supplier Diversity Exchanges, face-to-face sessions bringing diverse companies and Allstate buyers together. In 2010, Allstate spent $201 million with nearly 2,000 women, veteran, GLBT, or minority owned businesses. Allstate's diverse supplier strategy creates healthy competition for the goods and services we buy. It also helps small and diverse businesses grow. Those companies, in turn, provide jobs and services that strengthen communities, create wealth for more people and, eventually, greater demand for our products.

Allstate uses criteria established by the Small Business Association to define and target "diverse" suppliers. We evaluate progress by measuring our targeted spend in the first three of the 12 categories listed below.

We also measure our inclusive spend in all 12 categories identified by the United States Small Business Association as diverse and of special interest in meeting statutory obligations. These include:

Minority/Women Owned Enterprise (M/WBE)
Minority-Owned Business Enterprise (MBE)
Women-Owned Business Enterprise (WBE)
Disabled Business Enterprises (DIS)
Disabled Veterans Business Enterprises (DVET)
Disadvantaged Business Enterprises (DBE)
Historically Black Colleges or Universities (HBCU)
Historically Underutilized Business Zone (HUB Zone)
Small Business Administration 8(a) Program (SBA8(a))
Small Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (SDB)
Veteran-Owned Business Enterprise (VET)
Small Business Enterprise (SBE)
Gay Lesbian Bisexual Transgender-Owned Business Enterprises (GLBT)

Memberships Related to Supplier Diversity

Allstate works with select organizations to help identify successful practices in supplier diversity, conduct national benchmarking and connect with diverse suppliers at a variety of forums. Allstate is a member of:

National Minority Business Council
Women Business Enterprise National Council
National Hispanic Corporate Council
Department of Veteran Affairs Center for Veteran Enterprise
National Gay and Lesbian Chamber of Commerce