Feds Honor The Johns Hopkins Hospital And health System For Equal Employment Practices

The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) has given one of its handful of annual awards for fair and equal employment practices to The Johns Hopkins Hospital and the Johns Hopkins Health System Corporation (JHHS).

The “Freedom to Compete Award” will officially be presented to Ronald R. Peterson, president of JHHS, by EEOC chair Naomi C. Earp during a ceremony at 10:30 a.m. on Wednesday, Sept. 26, at EEOC headquarters in Washington, D.C.

The award showcases “the most innovative employer programs to promote fair and open competition in the 21st century workplace without regard to race, color, gender, religion, national origin, age or disability,” Earp said, noting that “in today’s competitive global economy, employers must cast a wide net to attract the most diverse range of talent available.”

“ We have made it clear that opportunity, diversity and inclusion are permanent priorities at Hopkins,” Peterson said of the EEOC’s tribute. “The Johns Hopkins Hospital cannot remain a world leader unless we tap the skills and talents of every employee and provide them a level playing field.”

Begun in 2002, the EEOC Freedom to Compete initiative recognizes open competition in the workplace. This year’s winners also include Emory Crawford Long Hospital; the City of Norfolk, Va.; Abilities Inc.; and the Internal Revenue Service.

“We are honored to be among 2007’s five winners” said Pamela Paulk, vice president for human resources at JHHS. “It is a testament to the dedication of the institution’s leadership and its culture.”

Among the innovative programs at JHHS cited in the EEOC award:

• Start On Success (SOS), which helps students with disabilities in Baltimore public schools make the transition to a workplace environment through internships and mentoring.

• Project REACH (Resources and Education for the Advancement of Careers at Hopkins), designed to help entry-level workers get on-site training during their work shifts to advance their careers. More than 250 JHHS staff have completed the training and have moved up the career ladder.

• Johns Hopkins Skills Enhancement Program, which offers more than 60 on site classes a year to prepare workers to take the GED or high school graduation equivalency test. More than 600 men and women complete the training annually.