Dominion reports increases in diverse hiring over past 5 years

Dominion Energy Inc. released its first public diversity, equity and inclusion report on Friday, reporting increases in gender and racial diversity among employees hired between 2016 and 2020.

With a goal of reaching 40% in diverse workforce representation — meaning hires of women and non-white people — by 2026, the Richmond-based utility giant, which employs 17,000, aims to increase the percentage by 1% each year. Currently, 34.6% of its workforce is diverse, with a 2.7% increase from 2016 to 2020, according to the report.

Between 2016 and 2020, Dominion’s hiring of diverse employees increased by 13.4%, from 36.1% to 49.6%. During the same period, the company recorded increases in the following demographics:

• 10.4% for women
• 3.4% for Black employees
• 2.8% for Hispanic employees
• 1.4% for other, non-white races
• 0.1% for Asian employees

According to the report, Dominion increased diversity at the leadership and executive levels, noting that 71% of Chair, President and CEO Robert “Bob” Blue’s direct reports are diverse. In 2020, amid widespread social justice protests sparked by the police killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis, Dominion pledged a six-year, $25 million commitment to support 11 Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) in states served by the utility. They include Hampton University, Norfolk State University, Virginia State University and Virginia Union University in Virginia. Dominion also created a $10 million scholarship fund for Black students and other underrepresented minorities in its service area. The Hampton Roads area was one of three regions that will receive $5 million in a two-year social justice grants initiative; Dominion contributed $2 million toward the fund.

In addition to hiring, Dominion pledged that the utility’s non-diverse prime contractors award at least 20% of all subcontracts to diverse suppliers; over the past five years, the company has averaged 10.4% growth per year in spending with diverse vendors, the report says. Also, Dominion started eight employee resource groups (ERGs) for Black, Asian and Latinx employees, as well as groups for women, LGBTQ+ employees, veterans, disabled workers and young professionals, focusing on building community and recruiting, among other goals.

“We’ve come a long way on diversity, equity and inclusion,” Blue said in a statement. “And we have more work to do. Our vision is to become the most sustainable energy company in the country, and we are in this for the long haul.”