U.S. Department of Labor Announces Recipients Of Excellence in Disability Inclusion Awards

WASHINGTON, DC – The U.S. Department of Labor today announced that CVS Health and PepsiCo have received Gold Awards in the department’s inaugural Excellence in Disability Inclusion (EDI) Awards program, which recognizes federal contractors that demonstrate excellence in making their workforce inclusive for people with disabilities.

Sponsored jointly by the department’s Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs (OFCCP) and Office of Disability Employment Policy (ODEP), the awards recognize employers that make exemplary efforts in the recruitment, hiring, retention and advancement of individuals with disabilities.

“The U.S. Department of Labor is committed to ensuring America’s workforce is driven by the skills and talents of all people, including people with disabilities,” said U.S. Secretary of Labor Eugene Scalia. “During this inaugural year of the Excellence in Disability Inclusion Awards, we celebrate businesses that excel in meeting their responsibilities and exemplify the spirit of inclusion.”

In its review of award nominations, the EDI Awards’ Executive Review Committee recognized CVS Health’s many efforts, including its “Abilities in Abundance” program, which provides training to people with disabilities to compete for a wide range of positions with the organization. Similarly, the committee found “Pepsi Achieving Change Together (PepsiACT),” a formal partnership between Pepsi and Disability Solutions @ Ability Beyond, a U.S. non-profit specializing in corporate disability recruiting programs, to be worthy of top honors.

“America’s employers have the responsibility to treat all qualified job applicants and workers equally and fairly, regardless of disability. Federal contractors are also required to take proactive steps to be disability inclusive,” said Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs Director Craig E. Leen. “The winners of this year’s Excellence in Disability Inclusion Awards make it clear that including people with disabilities is more than a matter of compliance, it is a wise business imperative.”

“CVS Health and PepsiCo have taken proactive and creative steps to optimize the talent in their organizations by addressing common employment barriers people with disabilities face,” said Acting Assistant Secretary for Disability Employment Policy Jennifer Sheehy. “These organizations have made inclusion a core part of their brand and business goals, and provide models for others to emulate.”

In the year ahead, CVS Health and PepsiCo will participate in a “Year of Engagement” program to share their best practices and encourage other employers to adopt them. Learn more about the EDI Awards.

OFCCP protects workers, promotes diversity and enforces the law. OFCCP holds contractors and subcontractors those that do business with the federal government responsible for complying with the legal requirement to take affirmative action and not discriminate based on race, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, national origin, disability or status as a protected veteran. Learn more about OFCCP.

ODEP is the only non-regulatory federal agency that promotes policies and coordinates with employers and all levels of government to increase workplace success for people with disabilities. Its mission is to develop and influence policies and practices that increase the number and quality of employment opportunities for people with disabilities. Learn more about ODEP.

The mission of the Department of Labor is to foster, promote and develop the welfare of the wage earners, job seekers and retirees of the United States; improve working conditions; advance opportunities for profitable employment; and assure work-related benefits and rights.