Published Date: 11/17/2006

ING was recently recognized for its diversity efforts in the Netherlands and the U.S. The Dutch confederation of industry and employers (VNO-NCW) presented ING with its Diversity Award 2006, while ING in the U.S. received the top score in the Corporate Equality Index 2006, a measure of gay, lesbian and bisexual equality in corporate America.

VNO-NCW presents its diversity award each year to underscore the importance of diversity, particularly the position of women in Dutch organizations. ING received the award “because of its front-runner role, the motivation and the persistent and consistent way in which it works towards diversity within the company,” according to the jury report.

The number of women in top positions in the Netherlands is increasing steadily. VNO-NCW wants to stimulate companies to carry out an active diversity policy, meaning a balanced work force in functions across the organization, including top management. With a scarcity of talent, especially for management functions, it’s important to use all available talent, according to VNO-NCW. An organization with a balanced work force is more innovative and decisive, and the prize should encourage other companies to follow suit.

Annerie Vreugdenhil, director of ING Wholesale Banking, Corporate Clients, accepted the award, a work of art by a young Dutch artist, on behalf of ING in a ceremony on Nov. 8.

Currently, 12 of ING’s top 200 managers are women. The number of women in higher positions in the Netherlands (job grade 12 and upwards) increased from 13.3 percent in 2003 to 16.4 percent in 2006. “We view this award as an encouragement to continue our efforts in diversity. There is still a lot of work ahead to create a more diverse workforce,” said Mirjam ten Cate-Hubregtse, corporate diversity manager of ING Group.

ING in the U.S. also achieved the top score in this year’s Corporate Equality Index. ING was one of 138 U.S. companies to achieve the top rating and one of 19 companies to receive a 100 percent rating in the banking and financial services sector.

The Corporate Equality Index is a leading indicator of whether U.S. companies have policies and a culture that are inclusive of gay, lesbian, bisexual and transsexual employees. The index “is intended to serve as a road map to help corporate diversity leaders stay on top of gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender workplace equality,” the report said. The index is measured by the Human Rights Campaign Foundation, America’s largest civil rights organization for gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender citizens.

“This year, more major American businesses received a perfect rating for equality and fairness than in any other year,” said Human Rights Campaign President Joe Solmonese. “At an ever increasing pace, corporate executives understand that supporting their gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender employees is not only the right thing to do but it is also good for business. The findings in this year’s report send a clear message that the American workplace is rapidly becoming more inclusive of diversity.”

Visit the web site of the Human Rights Campaign Foundation.