Q: What is The DiversityInc Top 50 Companies for Diversity?

A: Now in its 13th year, The DiversityInc Top 50 Companies for Diversity is the leading assessment of diversity management in corporate America and globally. Participation in the survey has increased dramatically, up 11 percent in 2012 to 587 companies.

The DiversityInc Top 50 Companies for Diversity survey shows increased participation for its detailed, empirically driven ranking, which is divided into four key areas:

• CEO Commitment to Diversity Management: accountability for results, personal communications, visibility
• Workforce Diversity and Human Capital: five levels of management, promotions in management, promotions into management
• Corporate and Organizational Communications: mentoring, resource groups, philanthropy, consistency/effectiveness of diversity-management initiatives
• Supplier Diversity: spend with M/WBE companies, including companies owned by LGBTs, people with disabilities, veterans

Q: How is it different from other diversity lists?

A: The DiversityInc Top 50 list is derived exclusively from corporate survey submissions. To be considered for a spot in the DiversityInc Top 50, a company must score above average in all four areas. Companies are evaluated within the context of their own industries.

The data is purely empirical and objective. Companies that advertise with DiversityInc or have other business relationships receive NO preferential treatment. Read the methodology.

Q: Do you have to pay to participate?

A: There is no fee to participate. Every company that completes the survey will receive a free report card assessing overall performance versus all participants and performance in the four key areas measured: CEO Commitment, Human Capital, Corporate and Organizational Communications (mentoring, resource groups, philanthropy, etc.)  and Supplier Diversity. Companies that want more in-depth comparisons should contact consulting@DiversityInc.com.

Q: When will the results be announced?

A: In 2013, results will be announced at our April 23–24 event at the Sheraton New York Hotel in New York City. More information soon will be available at DiversityInc.com. The results will be published on DiversityInc.com and DiversityIncBestPractices.com and will be prominently featured in DiversityInc magazine’s DiversityInc Top 50 Companies for Diversity issue. To view past magazine issues and features, browse our digital issues at DiversityInc.com/magazine.

Q: What other surveys does DiversityInc do?

A: DiversityInc uses the same data submission you send in for the DiversityInc Top 50 list to determine our 13 related lists. We also are introducing DiversityInc’s Top Regional Companies, based on a shorter survey for regional companies.

Q: What are the criteria to apply for the DiversityInc Top 50?

A: A company must have at least 1,000 U.S. employees to participate.

Q: Who within my organization should complete the survey?

A: Anyone you designate internally may complete the survey, but we recommend one person, usually someone familiar with diversity management, be the primary person filling it out. You will not be required to enter a username and password; the link provided will take you directly to the survey. The link is secure and can only be accessed by you and others at your company with whom you share it. Please be sure to only share the link with those responsible for helping you fill it out. The survey also gives you a link to a Word document you can print out for internal purposes. We do require that your head of diversity review and sign off on the data submission, as well as a senior officer of your company.

Q: What is the privacy policy?

A: We do not divulge specific demographic data of any company, and we guarantee its confidentiality. If a company makes the DiversityInc Top 50 list or one of our other 13 lists, we only discuss the best practices it utilizes that helped it make the list. There is no negativity associated with participation. If a company does not make the list or one of our other lists, its name is never revealed.

Q: Can we include employees outside of the United States?

A: No. The DiversityInc Top 50 survey only covers your programs and employee representation in the United States (including Alaska and Hawaii but NOT the commonwealth of Puerto Rico). DiversityInc has a few general global questions on this survey and a separate survey for other countries. For more information on the separate global survey, contact bfrankel@DiversityInc.com.

Q: How is the survey administered/distributed?

A: If you meet the above criteria and have provided your information to us, you will receive a link to our survey. The applications for The 2013 DiversityInc Top 50 Companies for Diversity survey will go out in September and are due by March 1, 2013.

Q: Do I need any special software to access the survey?

A: No. Our survey software is web-based, and we cannot enter data for you. The survey is filled out online, but a Word document is available for internal data-gathering purposes only.

Q: Can we count a program or procedure implemented during the year that was not in effect for the entire year?

A: As long as the program or procedure was in effect for three months of the calendar year surveyed, you may count it.

Q: What do you mean in your survey when you say “formal mentoring programs”?

A: Formal programs are organized and sanctioned by the company. The company arranges for the mentor/mentee relationship.

Q: How do you vet/comfirm the information on your application from companies that apply for your top company award?

A: We look for statistical anomalies, outliers and  illogical answers. We also spot-check survey questions randomly. Over the 13 years we’ve been producing the DiversityInc Top 50, we’ve disregarded only one survey from an organization that we did not trust (and was not challenged by the company involved). When we find something wrong, nearly 100 percent of the time, we find that companies are too conservative and under-report their results, especially when it comes to best practices such as mentoring and resource groups.