Duke Energy joins more than 250 companies in unprecedented commitment to advance diversity and inclusion in the workplace

- Companies pledge to take concrete actions to foster a diverse and inclusive environment

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Jul 25, 2017, 09:00 ET

CHARLOTTE, N.C., July 25, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Duke Energy today announced it has joined a national coalition of business leaders pledging to advance diversity and inclusion (D&I) in the workplace.

Launched in June, CEO Action for Diversity & Inclusion™ brings together more than 250 business leaders committing themselves – and the organizations they lead – to take concrete actions to foster a diverse and inclusive environment.

The CEO Action for Diversity & Inclusion™ represents nearly 70 industries, all 50 U.S. States, and millions of employees globally. Organizations joining the pledge commit to taking three initial actions: cultivate workplaces that support open dialogue on complex, and sometimes difficult, conversations about diversity and inclusion; implement and expand unconscious bias education; and, share best practices with member companies.

"A diverse and inclusive culture is a critical asset as we transform to better serve our customers and local communities," said Lynn Good, chairman, president and CEO of Duke Energy. "Our employees don't turn off their emotions when they come to work – and we don't want them to. We're committed to creating a safe environment for them to share their views because we've already seen how this can foster more compassion and wellbeing among our employees."

Today's announcement reflects Duke Energy's long-standing commitment to providing an inclusive environment where employees feel valued and respected. Among the programs that Duke Energy already offers to advance diversity and inclusion are:

A 20 year-old network of Employee Resource Groups representing African Americans, Hispanics, women, people with disabilities, new employees, veterans and the LGBT community that work to address the needs of employees, communities and customers.
Diversity Councils that sponsor local D&I education and awareness activities, and support our diverse customers through volunteerism and community outreach.
A series of facilitated conversations, called "Pathways to Inclusion," hosted by company leaders in the wake of the civil unrest in Charlotte, NC in 2016 that provided a venue for employees to discuss the recent events, their impact and how we can move forward and create unity.
An unconscious bias training program that was piloted with 75 leaders in 2016, with plans to expand in the future.

New research from the Center for Talent Innovation, a nonprofit think tank, found that when employees can discuss the topic of race relations at work, they feel significantly more included. With this in mind, the CEO-driven pledge commits companies to work collaboratively to advance diversity and inclusion in the workplace, and in turn, improve corporate performance, drive growth, and enhance employee engagement.

"We are so proud that we are continuing to build momentum and support for the CEO Action for Diversity & Inclusion™ across companies, industries and regions," said Tim Ryan, U.S. Chairman and Senior Partner of PwC and chair of the steering committee for the CEO Action for Diversity & Inclusion™.

Visit the online hub to learn more about the pledge, and connect with the coalition on Facebook and Twitter.

Duke Energy
Headquartered in Charlotte, N.C., Duke Energy is one of the largest energy holding companies in the United States. Its Electric Utilities and Infrastructure business unit serves approximately 7.5 million customers located in six states in the Southeast and Midwest. The company's Gas Utilities and Infrastructure business unit distributes natural gas to approximately 1.6 million customers in the Carolinas, Ohio, Kentucky and Tennessee. Its Commercial Renewables business unit operates a growing renewable energy portfolio across the United States.

Duke Energy is a Fortune 125 company traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol DUK. More information about the company is available at duke-energy.com.

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