Procter & Gamble Creates New Employment Opportunities Through Its "Diversity of Abilities" Pilot Initiative at Auburn, ME, Manufacturing Plant

AUBURN, Maine, Aug. 3, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- On Tuesday, August 2, Procter & Gamble (NYSE: PG) opened a new packaging customization facility at its plant in Auburn, ME. In partnership with the Maine Bureau of Rehabilitation Services and the Department of Health & Human Services, this new FlexiCenter facility will offer local employment opportunities for individuals with physical and developmental challenges, as well as disabled veterans. These new hires will account for at least 30 percent of the facility's workforce, and once hiring is complete, the FlexiCenter will house a total of 60 local employees.

(Photo:  http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20110803/NY46349 )

"The FlexiCenter operation demonstrates P&G's commitment to Diversity & Inclusion showcasing the high level of Excellence at the Auburn Site," said Site Leader Felica Coney.  "The FlexiCenter is an example of Business Collaborating with State Government and Private Agencies to deliver an incredible opportunity for an amazing group of people."

The FlexiCenter is a strong affirmation of P&G's commitment to diversity, bringing new jobs and opportunities, leveraging a broad range of diversity in an inclusive environment where people with and without disabilities work side by side, earning the same pay, receiving the same benefits and held to the same productivity and workplace standards. Continuing to broaden P&G's workforce by employing people with physical and developmental challenges is not only the right thing to do, but it also makes good business sense and has benefits which will reverberate across the company and community.

As a Company, P&G's Purpose is to touch and improve lives, and the belief is that this fundamentally begins at an employee level. This new pilot location truly highlights P&G's diversity and inclusion model that is deeply rooted in its DNA, bringing together individuals from different backgrounds, ethnicity, cultures, talents and a wide variety of abilities. It is the company's belief that diverse organizations are highly innovative.

P&G currently employs an estimated 7,000 individuals with various disabilities and expects a positive community impact from this new, innovative facility.

About Procter & Gamble

Four billion times a day, P&G brands touch the lives of people around the world. The company has one of the strongest portfolios of trusted, quality, leadership brands, including Pampers®, Tide®, Ariel®, Always®, Whisper®, Pantene®, Mach3®, Bounty®, Dawn®, Gain®, Pringles®, Charmin®, Downy®, Lenor®, Iams®, Crest®, Oral-B®, Duracell®, Olay®, Head & Shoulders®, Wella®, Gillette®, Braun® and Fusion®. The P&G community includes approximately 127,000 employees working in about 80 countries worldwide. Please visit http://www.pg.com for the latest news and in-depth information about P&G and its brands.

Media Contact: 
Jessica Hersh
[email protected]
212.468.3867

SOURCE Procter & Gamble