D iversity and the equal opportunity it affords are strategically important. It improves effectiveness in the marketplace. It has been long-standing tradition, as well as our corporate policy, to treat each individual with dignity and respect. This is both a question of equity and of market success. To guarantee this, we will effectively utilize all of our human resource talent and continue to pursue this effort.

Corporate policy is to:

• Comply with both the letter and the spirit of all applicable laws and regulations governing employment;
• Provide equal opportunity to all employees and to all applicants for employment;
• Take appropriate affirmative action to make equal opportunity a reality;
• Prohibit discrimination or harassment because of race, color, creed, religion, national origin, citizenship, sex, marital status, age, physical or mental disability, one's status as a special disabled veteran, veteran of the Vietnam era, or other covered veterans, or because of a person's sexual orientation, gender identity, characteristics or expression, in any employment decision or in the administration of any personnel policy;
• Make reasonable accommodations to the physical and/or mental limitations of qualified employees or applicants with disabilities;
• Ensure that maximum opportunity is afforded to all minority and women-owned businesses to participate as suppliers, contractors, and subcontractors of goods and services; and comply with regulatory agency requirements and with federal, state, and local procurement regulations and programs;
• Advise employees of their rights to refer violations of this policy to their supervision, or to the appropriate internal organization charged with the administration of the Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action policy, without intimidation or retaliation of any form for exercising such rights.