Upcoming Board Meeting
Schedule
Sept 4, 9am - 12noon - Executive/Full Board
Nov 6, 9am - 12noon - Executive/Full Board
2009 Membership
Reception
As a member of the South Carolina Diversity
Council, you are invited to participate as a sponsor of the inaugural
Membership Reception set for July 23 in the First Citizens’ Lobby
located at 1230 Main Street. There are several levels of sponsorship
ranging from $250 to $1,500. The deadline to sponsor is June 30. If you
have questions regarding sponsorship, please contact
Tish Anderson directly
at (803)255-2627. Click
here for sponsorship information or to register for this event.
Diversity Council Acknowledged in
SCBiz magazine - Click here to
read more.
2009 Diversity in the Workplace Awards - Call for
Nominations
Nominations
are now open for the 2009 Diversity in the Workplace Awards.
Click here to
download an application. Applications close September 18, 2009.
GROUND-BREAKING SURVEY OF EMPLOYER ACTIONS/ATTITUDES RELEASED
Survey of Employer Perspectives on the Employment
of People with Disabilities is the first of its magnitude, with
responses representing more than 2.4 Million companies nationwide. The
survey reveals that a majority of large businesses hiring people with
disabilities are discovering that costs for accommodations differ very
little from those of the general employee population. Additionally, the
survey showed that once an employer hires someone with a disability,
they are much more likely to hire other people with disabilities.
ODEP’s revised Business Case for Hiring People with Disabilities,
including returning disabled veterans, features video clips, research
and anecdotal information from businesses and industry leaders on how
hiring people with disabilities improves an organizations bottom line
across six themes: Return on Investment, Human Capital, Innovation,
Marketing, Diversity, and Social Responsibility.
Both are
now available.
The 2008 Excellence in
Workplace Diversity Award
The South Carolina Diversity Council's annual Excellence in Workplace
Diversity Dinner was held on October 28. The winners were - in the small
employer category - US Engine Valve, in the medium employer category -
Wackenhut Services Inc, and in the large employer category - Verizon
Wireless. View our slide show
By Clicking Here.
Federal Contracts Required to Use E-verify System:
On June 6, President George W. Bush issued an executive order requiring
all federal government contractors to use E-Verify to verify the work
authorization of all new hires and existing personnel assigned to
perform work on future federal contracts. The amended Executive Order
12989 states: "Adherence to the general policy of contracting only with
providers that do not knowingly employ unauthorized alien workers and
that have agreed to utilize an electronic employment verification system
designated by the Secretary of Homeland Security to confirm the
employment eligibility of their workforce will promote economy and
efficiency in Federal procurement."
The executive order doesn't address whether subcontractors also will be
required to use E-Verify, but it grants rulemaking authority to the
Department of Homeland Security. The order comes at a time of increasing
criticism of E-Verify and congressional hearings on finding a
substitute. Text of the executive order is available at the White House
website:
http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2008/06/20080609-2.html
2009 Officers (Click Here) and
Board members (Click Here)
View the Council's session on affirmative
action in the electronic age presentation -
Click Here for Video
Session.
Visit our new diversity resource page by
clicking here.
The
Council recognizes its full corporate members and acknowledges their
enhanced level of support. Click here
for a listing of these members.
Per action of the Board, membership are
now on an individual annual basis, expiring twelve months from
initiation of the membership. Click
here to download a membership application if your company is not
already a member of the Council.
