Health & Biotech

Hormel Foods Corporation, a Fortune 500 global branded food company, has been named one of America's greatest workplaces for diversity by Newsweek magazine.

"Being named one of America's greatest workplaces for diversity is an incredible honor," said Katie Larson, senior vice president of human resources at Hormel Foods. "We believe a diverse workforce cultivates an environment filled with unique perspectives that drive innovation and enable us to create a better, more inclusive workplace. Our 20,000 inspired team members are dedicated to fostering a culture of inclusion, respect, collaboration and belonging. This recognition is a testament to these efforts."

"We are very proud to be recognized for our efforts to foster an inclusive and diverse workforce and everything that celebrates the power of bringing together the talents of our unique team members across the world," said Antoine Destin, director of diversity, equity and inclusion at Hormel Foods."

Hormel Foods has a long-standing reputation as one of the most successful food companies in the world and has received numerous honors and accolades. The company recently received a perfect score of 100 on the 2023 Corporate Equality Index (CEI), and throughout 2023, Hormel Foods has received numerous awards and accolades, including:

• Drucker Institute Management Top 250 list of America's Best Run Companies.
• Newsweek's Most Trustworthy Companies in America.
• Newsweek's Greatest Workplaces in America.
• Fortune's Most Admired Companies.
• U.S. News & World Report's Best Companies to Work for in America.

University of Phoenix College of Doctoral Studies has released a new white paper, “Underrepresented Americans: How The Pandemic Rooted Societal Barriers and Derailed Career Trajectories,” authored by, Juana Lang, Ed.D., M.Ed., faculty in the College and recent fellow of the University’s Center for Leadership Studies and Organizational Research (CLSOR), and Lucinda Hines, DHA, MBA, fellow, Center for Educational and Instructional Technology Research (CEITR). The white paper leverages consecutive Career Optimism Index findings to understand the pandemic impact on existing societal barriers and career trajectories.

While U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported this year that the unemployment rate has returned to pre-pandemic levels, the 2023 Career Optimism Index® study found that over a third of workers, 38 percent, say they do not feel like they have the ability to advance in their career at their current job.

The white paper explores changes in career trajectories of underrepresented populations from 2021 through 2023 and barriers experienced by these groups during this period. The white paper finds that people of color and workers from different ethnic backgrounds, including women and Americans making under $50,000 a year experienced drastic career derailment compared to their counterparts. It also finds that deep-rooted societal roadblocks such as financial insecurity, perceived deficiencies in job preparedness to face the future job market, and a decline in emotional well-being were exacerbated for this population stratum.

“Even before the pandemic, many hourly-paid workers in the U.S. were worried about their finances. Career trajectories were derailed, and underrepresented Americans felt it with greater force,” states Lang. “Employers and policy makers can help address these disparities and foster a more resilient workforce better equipped to navigate today’s workplace demands.”

Lang is a part-time college instructor and a full-time K-12 educator with an extensive career in Texas and Florida schools for over 25 years. As a research fellow in CLSOR, she also works in different research teams in association with CEITR and is part of the mentorship program developed by the University of Phoenix College of Doctoral Studies. She earned her doctorate and master’s degrees in education with the University of Phoenix.

 BIOLASE, Inc.  the global leader in dental lasers, today announced it has been awarded a Top Workplaces 2023 honor by Orange County Register Top Workplaces. The award is based solely on employee feedback gathered through a third-party survey administered by employee engagement technology partner Energage LLC. The confidential survey uniquely measures 15 culture drivers that are critical to success, including alignment, execution, and connection.

"Earning a Top Workplaces award is a badge of honor for companies, especially because it comes authentically from their employees," said Eric Rubino, Energage Chief Executive Officer. "That's something to be proud of. In today's market, leaders must ensure they're allowing employees to have a voice and be heard. That's paramount. Top Workplaces do this, and it pays dividends."

"I am extremely proud of the BIOLASE team and the critical role they play every day in elevating the standard of care of dental professionals around the world," said John Beaver, BIOLASE President and Chief Executive Officer. "Our team truly cares about our customers and their patients, and it is evident in their dedication."

DPC Dash Ltd Domino’s Pizza’s exclusive master franchisee in the China Mainland, the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of China, and the Macau Special Administrative Region of China announced its inclusion in the 2023 Kincentric China Best Employers.

DPC Dash was recognised among a diverse group of organisations for continuously demonstrating workplace excellence. That is to say, employees are delighted with their employment experience, specifically on aspects that are crucial for an organisation to excel: employee engagement, agility, engaging leadership and talent focus. This year, DPC Dash stands out from hundreds of organizations competing for the Best Employers. In addition to Best Employers, DPC Dash received an honourable mention for Talent Focus practices. It shows that employees are confident take pride in the organization, and demonstrate their organization’s vitality in talent.

Kincentric Best Employers is a certification program that recognises leading employers worldwide. It is based on 22 years of Best Employers research worldwide, more than 50 years of employee experience research and a robust global database. With consistent methodology, this program measures and recognizes organizations that capture the full power of their people to create sustainable competitive advantage and accelerate success.