Rockwell receives Catalyst award for inclusion initiatives

Feb. 1, 2017
Company will be formally recognized on March 8 in New York City.

Rockwell Automation has been announced as a 2017 Catalyst Award winner, an honor that recognizes innovative organizational approaches for the recruitment, development and advancement of women, and which have led to measurable results. Rockwell will be recognized formally on March 8 in New York City.

“We are thrilled to receive this recognition from Catalyst for our Culture of Inclusion journey, demonstrating our commitment to our employees, customers and community,” said Blake Moret, president and CEO of Rockwell.

Rockwell’s Culture of Inclusion journey began in 2007 in response to employee data showing that women and people of color at the company had lower retention rates than white men. According to Rockwell, this strategy is driven by the knowledge that in order to effect sustainable change, the dominant group – in this case, white men – must be aware of the impact of their privilege, be engaged, and partner with women and underrepresented groups in a meaningful way.

Between 2008 and 2016, women’s representation in the U.S. increased from 11.9 percent to 23.5 percent among vice presidents, from 14.7 percent to 23.2 percent among directors and from 19.3 percent to 24.3 percent at the middle-manager level, according to a Rockwell press release. At the most senior leadership levels, women’s representation doubled, increasing from 11.1 percent to 25.0 percent among the CEO’s direct reports and from 11.1 percent to 20.0 percent on the board of directors.

Rockwell also announced that women’s voluntary turnover is below the benchmark average.