The Hispanic Association on Corporate Responsibility revealed findings from its annual Corporate Inclusion Index on July 1, 2020, in its webinar titled, Using HACR’s Corporate Inclusion Index as a Road Map to Develop Your Hispanic Inclusion Strategy.
The Hispanic Association on Corporate Responsibility revealed findings from its annual Corporate Inclusion Index on July 1, 2020, in its webinar titled, Using HACR’s Corporate Inclusion Index as a Road Map to Develop Your Hispanic Inclusion Strategy.
Event panelists included members of HACR’s research team, who collect data each year that evaluates corporate diversity initiatives based on four key criteria: employment, procurement, philanthropy, and governance. HACR Data Analytics Manager Alida Minkel led the discussion of this year’s report, asking about the index’s purpose and what discoveries the team has made with it.
According to HACR Director of Corporate Responsibility Eric Lopez, while the CII does act as an evaluative tool for Hispanic inclusion at different corporations, “it can be a benchmarking tool [for participants] and also a roadmap for future Hispanic inclusion practices.”
Established in 2009 with 30 companies, survey participation has seen incremental growth since 2017, averaging 10% each year. “In its early days it was very much of a ranking as opposed to a rating,” said HACR Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer Lisette Garcia, who oversees the research team’s functionality. “Over the years it has transitioned, and I think that move was quite helpful not only for the companies that were taking the survey, but for us [too], because ultimately it’s not about which company [is] ‘the best,’ but how we can help all companies achieve a level of success when it comes to Hispanic inclusion.”
A major hallmark of the CII is its cross-industry sourcing. From retail to finance, questions are based on conversations with participants, not just numbers. “It’s a true partnership [between] the businesses and [HACR],” said Research Consultant Roxana Vergara, who has spent her career enhancing and building marketing capabilities for various companies. “They’re driving the conversation.”
Because of the index’s focus on rating over comparing, the survey concentrates on the work being done by participating companies and identifies opportunities for growth. These opportunities become the reference points for inclusion goals moving forward, whether that be internship programs, Employee Resource Groups, or diversifying boards, among many other initiatives.
The panelists concluded the conversation by laying out ways they plan on evolving the survey in the future. In particular, the 2021 CII will include sections on the impact of COVID-19 and Hispanic inclusion. They also hope to offer deeper analysis regarding cross-industry comparisons.
Visit our virtual events archive to watch the full webinar recording.
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