ATLANTA, April 21, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Southern Company has been named to DiversityInc's 2016 Top 50 Companies for Diversity list. Additionally, the company placed No.1 in DiversityInc's newly created category of Top 10 Companies for Opportunities and sixth on the Top 10 Companies for Veterans list. 

"Diversity is central to our business strategy. We hire smart and diverse people, then support and develop them and move them into larger roles," said Southern Company Chairman, President and CEO Thomas A. Fanning. "People with different backgrounds, judgments and experiences allow us to see around corners and invent the future. Diversity of people, thoughts and ideas is what ultimately makes us successful."  

The annual survey – considered one of the most rigorous, data-driven analyses of its kind – gauges detailed demographics based on race/ethnicity and gender at some of the largest U.S. employers, all in an effort to better assess initiatives to hire, retain and promote women, minorities, people with disabilities, LGBT and veterans.

"It's clear that corporate America understands how diversity and inclusion strengthens everything from recruiting and retention to overall business success," said DiversityInc's Founder and CEO Luke Visconti. "We saw more than 1,000 companies submitting for contention on the list. It's a sign of their commitment and dedication to diversity management."

Companies with more than 1,000 U.S.-based employees are eligible to enter, and company rank is based on an objective analysis of nearly 200 separate factors. The four equally weighted areas of measurement are talent pipeline, equitable talent development, CEO and leadership commitment and supplier diversity.   

To view DiversityInc's Top 50 Companies for Diversity list, visit http://www.diversityinc.com/top50 .

With more than 4.5 million customers and approximately 44,000 megawatts of generating capacity, Atlanta-based Southern Company (NYSE: SO) is the premier energy company serving the Southeast through its subsidiaries. A leading U.S. producer of clean, safe, reliable and affordable electricity, Southern Company owns electric utilities in four states and a growing competitive generation company, as well as fiber optics and wireless communications. Southern Company brands are known for excellent customer service, high reliability and affordable prices that are below the national average. Through an industry-leading commitment to innovation, Southern Company and its subsidiaries are inventing America's energy future by developing the full portfolio of energy resources, including nuclear, 21^st century coal, natural gas, renewables and energy efficiency, and creating new products and services for the benefit of customers. Southern Company has been named by the U.S. Department of Defense and G.I. Jobs magazine as a top military employer, listed by Black Enterprise magazine as one of the 40 Best Companies for Diversity and designated a 2014 Top Employer for Hispanics by Hispanic Network. The company earned the 2014 National Award of Nuclear Science and History from the National Atomic Museum Foundation for its leadership and commitment to nuclear development, and is consistently ranked among the top utilities in Fortune's annual World's Most Admired Electric and Gas Utility rankings. Visit our website at www.southerncompany.com.

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SOURCE Southern Company

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