Amtrak, BNSF, CSX and UP Earn Spots on Disability Equality Index
Written by Carolina Worrell, Senior Editor
BNSF’s top score places it among the leading companies dedicated to building diverse and inclusive work environments.
Amtrak, BNSF, CSX and Union Pacific (UP) have each been recognized as a “Best Place to Work for Disability Inclusion” by the American Association of People with Disabilities (AAPD) and nonprofit Disability:IN, achieving high scores on the 2023 Disability Equality Index® (DEI).
Launched in 2015, the annual DEI is described as a “benchmarking tool that helps companies build a roadmap of measurable, tangible actions toward disability inclusion and equality.” This year, 485 companies participated. Each was scored on a scale of zero to 100, based on assessments of culture and leadership (30 points); enterprise-wide access (10 points); employment practices (benefits, recruitment, employment, education, retention, advancement, and accommodations; 40 points); community engagement (10 points); supplier diversity (10 points); and non-U.S. operations (not weighted). In 2022, 415 companies participated with 241 achieving the top score of 100.
AAPD and Disability:IN said a score of 100 “does not mean to convey ‘perfection,’” as they “recognize that there is no one ‘right way’ to practice inclusion, and that some practices may be more practical for some companies or industries than others. A score of 100 on the DEI simply means that a company adheres to many of the numerous leading disability inclusion practices featured in the DEI.”
Amtrak, BNSF, CSX and UP were among 294 companies to achieve the top DEI score of 100. Others receiving the score include Cummins and Siemens, while Wabtec was one of 44 companies to earn a score of 80.
“At BNSF, we firmly believe that diversity and inclusion mean inclusion for all,” said BNSF Assistant Vice President of Talent Management Debra Ross. “We are honored to receive this prestigious award, which is a testament to our ongoing efforts to support individuals with disabilities and create an environment where everyone feels empowered to be their authentic and genuine selves every single day.”
“Union Pacific is proud to score 100 on the DEI, earning recognition as a 2023 Best Place to Work for Disability Inclusion,” UP stated in a LinkedIn post.
A full list of the companies earning a spot on the 2023 DEI can be found here.
