Hispanics still underrepresented in Corporate America

The Hispanic Association for Corporate Responsibility (HACR) to release findings of its Corporate Inclusion Index survey in partnership with the Congressional Hispanic Caucus Corporate America Task Force

Only 6% out of 384 open board positions are held by Hispanics. And of the 1,281 executive and director positions available, Hispanics held only 61 positions.

The Hispanic Association for Corporate Responsibility (HACR), one of the most influential advocacy organizations in the nation representing 13 national Hispanic organizations in the United States and Puerto Rico, will release the finding of its 2009 HACR Corporate Inclusion Index survey (CII), Wednesday, December 16th at 11:30 am at the Cannon House Office Building, Room 121, Independence Avenue and 1st Street, SE.

As part of the HACR Corporate Accountability Strategy that was adopted early this year, the CII was conducted to measure all Fortune 100 companies and HACR corporate partners, relative to their Hispanic inclusion strategies within the corporation’s business model. Over the past few years, HACR has been working closely with the Congressional Hispanic Caucus (CHC) Corporate America Task Force on Hispanic inclusion in Corporate America.
“While the Hispanic community continues to make strides in our country, we are still not represented on corporate boards, upper management, and key decision-making positions in the  most successful and largest corporations in the United States,” said HACR Chairman Ignacio Salazar, president and CEO of SER Jobs for Progress, headquartered in Dallas, TX.  “Fortune 100 companies can no longer ignore the largest and fastest-growing ethnic group in the United States because to do so is not only bad business, it is irresponsible.”

The CII survey focused on four key areas that are reflective of the mission of HACR’s corporate responsibility and community reciprocity: employment, procurement, philanthropy, and governance.

HACR’s CII shows that of those surveyed, only 6% out of 384 open board positions are held by Hispanics. And of the 1,281 executive and director positions available, Hispanics held only 61 positions.

In the area of philanthropic giving, the CII revealed that the average corporate giving distributed in 2008 was approximately $68 million – only 2.5% was directed to the Hispanic community.

And finally, the survey also found that there remains a discrepancy in earnings paid to Hispanic and non-Hispanics. On average, Hispanics are earning $12,000 less for a full-time position.

“HACR commends the Fortune 100 and HACR Corporate member companies for participating in the 2009 HACR Corporate Index Survey.” said HACR President and CEO, Carlos Orta “We are confident that those companies that did not participate this year will do so in the future; if for no other reason than to lend credence to their claims of being “leaders” in their respective industries.”

The 2009 HACR Corporate Inclusion Index survey will be available for download on HACR’s website, www.HACR.org, on Wednesday afternoon. The data collected from HACR’s CII survey, was voluntarily submitted by Fortune 100 and HACR corporate member companies.

MEDIA CONTACT:

Teresa Chaurand

816-582-3130 cell

Source: HACR