PBN DIVERSITY & INCLUSIONS 2020 AWARDS
IT/Technology: Cox Communications Inc.
BEING INNOVATIVE WITHIN the technology realm is nothing new for Cox Communications Inc. Employees collaborating and bouncing new ideas off one another is part of the normal process at the national telecommunications company, which has a West Warwick location.
Add diversity and inclusion into the mix, and the possibilities at Cox are endless.
“When you put a group of people together that have a diverse range of talents and experience, you, by default, increase innovation,” said Jay Allbaugh, senior vice president and Cox’s Northeast region manager. “You get different ideas, feedback with peers you wouldn’t get from a more homogeneous group.”
Cox addresses diversity and inclusion at every level throughout the business. Allbaugh said it has been a company cornerstone for more than 50 years. The company has been recognized 15 times for its commitment to diversity and inclusion by national digital publication Diversity Inc.
This year, Cox was ranked No. 17 among its “Top 50 Companies for Diversity.” The company also ranked high for supplier diversity, executive diversity councils and for philanthropy. For 10 years, Cox has been recognized as a best operator for women by Women in Cable Telecommunications.
Allbaugh also said that when a company has a diverse workforce, employee performance and engagement increase.
“When employees feel comfortable and accepted, I contend they are more likely to engage in active problem-solving and be more productive,” he said.
Cox offers various programs to support employee professional development, including several mentoring and sponsorship opportunities for leaders to engage and empower employees. It also offers employee-resource groups (Black/African Americans, THRIVE, veterans, women’s and several others), tuition reimbursement, a 20/20 Vision Leadership program and access to hundreds of training programs.
“We are pretty proud of our employee benefits. They are wide, and when it comes to diversity, we include things like domestic-partner health coverage,” Allbaugh said. “It’s about listening and valuing their feedback to where an employee feels accepted so they are more productive.”
Cox empowers employees to direct and manage their growth and success. It also regularly engages employees’ opinions about diversity and inclusion through opinion surveys, focus groups and meetings.
“The reason why Cox is a staunch supporter of diversity and inclusion is because they know they value their employees,” said Rosie Fernandez, Cox’s community relations manager. “At the end of the day everyone wants to feel valued. I think when they walk into Cox Communications, that’s exactly how they feel.”
Fernandez said the recruiting team works with several nonprofit community partners that support diverse communities to provide them with career opportunities. However, it is not just about getting people in the door. Cox has sponsorship and mentoring programs that encourage front-line employees to consider leadership roles with the company.
Cox also provides coaching and training to women who are interested in careers outside of traditionally female roles.
“We are recruiting in all areas and giving opportunities to groups that are sometimes overlooked,” Fernandez said. “We pride ourselves on that.”
Allbaugh said Cox employees live and work in communities the company serves throughout Rhode Island and work to build team trust among a diverse customer base. Cox also meets customer needs by collaborating with diverse suppliers.
“We value and encourage contracting with a wide forum of suppliers,” Allbaugh said. “Without a doubt they have to have high-quality products and services, but I think it provides such a mutually beneficial partnership with a wide array of diverse partners.”
Additionally, Cox addresses diversity and inclusion in its charitable endeavors. Cox has invested millions by supporting STEAM-focused initiatives (science, technology, engineering, arts and math), presented innovation labs and offered the low-cost internet program Connect2Compete to help low-income families gain access to internet at home. Earlier this year, Cox presented Tech Boosts grants to help local agencies purchase the necessary technology to continue to serve the community.
“Our charitable giving focuses on education, especially for disadvantaged groups,” Allbaugh said. “We try to address a social responsibility with emphasis on supporting [youths].”
