Microsoft ditches supplier over diversity

Microsoft has dropped a supplier because of the company's attitude towards diversity issues and claims to be increasingly examining its providers' diversity practices.

The software giant told Personnel Today that "cavalier" diversity policy was the reason for it choosing not to use one provider.

Businesses in Britain are being warned to take diversity policies seriously as it could cost them business in the future, as more and more companies assess corporate responsibility when awarding contracts.

A large number of North American companies expect their suppliers to demonstrate evidence of good diversity practices and the trend is starting to work its way into UK markets.

Barclays announced in 2006 that it was requesting diversity statistics from all its legal advisors and UK employers are increasingly requesting information about diversity policies from suppliers.

The Northwest Minority Business Council (NMBC) in the United States recently presented Microsoft with the prestigious Corporation of the Year award for its efforts with supplier diversity and minority-owned business development.

© Adfero Ltd
Date:22/03/2007 11:02:07