Diversity and Inclusion is core to who we are, what we do and how we do it.
Initiatives
Over the past year, we have renewed our enterprise-wide commitments to diversity and inclusion. We are progressing several initiatives with the intention of delivering meaningful and sustained impact in the areas of diversity and inclusion for our company, including internal and external initiatives, programs and partnerships.
Our companywide Diversity and Inclusion Council, comprised of colleagues from all levels and areas of our businesses and corporate functions, assists in leading conversations and driving diversity and inclusion efforts across the organization, such as:
- CenterPoint Energy’s 2020 Diversity and Inclusion anonymous survey engaged all employees on attitudes toward diversity, culture, hiring and recruiting, diversity training programs and other workplace experiences.
- Based on survey responses, the Council launched Employee Resource Groups (ERGs) at CenterPoint Energy in early 2021.
- Creating a leadership talent pipeline that builds a diverse workforce and inclusive work environment that is reflective of the available workforce, placing a focus on diversity and inclusion in leadership development programs and talent reviews.
In 2020,
31% of our placements were FEMALE EMPLOYEES,
which is 6% more gender diverse than the average workforce of the energy utility industry.
48% of our placements were candidates either RACIALLY or ETHNICALLY DIVERSE.
Source: U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, Job Patterns for Minorities and Women in Private Industry (EEO-1)
Affinity and Employee Resource Groups
Our Affinity groups are formed around a shared interest or common goal for employees across CenterPoint Energy. Affinity groups help us build community, enhance purposeful networking and employee engagement across our company, promote career development, and offer leadership and professional development opportunities.
CenterPoint Energy Affinity Groups:
- EnPoint: Gas Engineering employees
- EPN: Electric Engineering employees
- EV Point: Employees who are electric vehicle enthusiasts
- MyPoint: Finance, IT and Audit Services employees
- OnPoint: Employees who work in Operations and functional areas across Houston
EMPLOYEE RESOURCE GROUPS
As a result of our 2020 Diversity and Inclusion employee survey, we are excited to announce the 2021 launch of ERGs at CenterPoint Energy. ERGs offer opportunities to connect internally, attract a diverse employee base, promote inclusion by ensuring that different viewpoints are heard and ideas are considered, and create opportunities for mentoring and professional development.
Our ERG’s goals and activities are aligned with CenterPoint Energy’s Diversity and Inclusion Vision and Positioning statement, as well as the Diversity and Inclusion Council’s strategic goals. ERGs are employee-led, operated with oversight by the D&I Council and are open to all employees.
ERGs Launched in 2021:
- Black Employees Network
- CNP Military Network
- CNP Pride
- Cultural Niketan of India
- Hispanic & Latin Professional Network
- Women in Leadership
Recruiting
Our Talent Acquisition team is at the forefront of our efforts to create a workforce reflective of the communities we serve. We support best practices for promoting diversity through our recruitment process, and we actively recruit and hire veterans and individuals with disabilities.
Nationally, we partner with Disability Solutions, Hispanic Alliance for Career Enhancement, LocalJobNetwork (Circa) and RecruitMilitary.
Local partnerships include:
Houston
Texas Diversity Council, S.A.F.E. Diversity Communities, Lone Star Veterans Association, Playsmint, SER Jobs, Workforce Solutions, United States Department of Veterans Affairs, Wounded Warrior Project, Houston Area Urban League, Women in Construction, and NextOp
Minneapolis
Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development, Minneapolis Urban League, Step Up, Minnesota Department of Veterans Affairs, and Minnesota Vocational Rehabilitation
Evansville
Evansville Vet Center, Ivy Tech Community College of Indiana, YWCA of Evansville, Evansville Arc, and Vanderburgh County Veterans Services
We use diverse interview panels for candidate interviews to represent diversity when we interview prospective new hires for opportunities across our company.
College Recruiting Program
Our College Recruiting program partners with a wide array of student organizations at many of the schools throughout our footprint. These partnerships provide opportunities for us to engage with a diverse mix of students as they plan their professional careers. Internships, co-ops and entry-level job opportunities are offered throughout the company.
