AT&T Earns No. 2 Spot on DiversityInc’s List of Top 50 Companies for Diversity

AT&T is also included on Three of DiversityInc’s Specialty Lists for Its Commitment to Diversity in the Workplace and Marketplace

Dallas, Texas.- AT&T* today announced that it has once again been recognized for its longstanding commitment to diversity and inclusion across its global operations — most recently by DiversityInc, which named AT&T among its Top 50 Companies for Diversity in 2009. AT&T moved up 20 spaces in the 2009 rankings over last year — from 22nd to 2nd. AT&T is also included on three of DiversityInc’s Top 10 specialty lists, ranking No. 7 among the Top 10 Companies for Recruitment & Retention; No. 1 among the Top 10 Companies for African Americans; and No. 8 among the Top 10 Companies for LGBT Employees.

This is the ninth year that DiversityInc has administered the Top 50 Companies survey — more than 400 companies vied for the honor this year, an increase of 14 percent over 2008. Last year, AT&T was included among The DiversityInc Top 10 Companies for Supplier Diversity because of its long history as a national supplier-diversity leader, which includes consistently expanding contracting opportunities for minority- and women-owned businesses.

“AT&T’s commitment to diversity and inclusion is so deeply engrained in our culture that it’s part of our DNA,” said Cindy Brinkley, AT&T chief diversity officer. “The leaders and employees of AT&T have understood for more than a century that a genuine appreciation of differences contributes not only to the culture, but to the bottom line. At AT&T, where our vision is to connect people with their worlds everywhere they live and work, diversity and inclusion are not add-ons; they are cornerstones of our business plans and integral to our success. That’s why our 300,000 employees are so gratified when that commitment is acknowledged and recognized by leading organizations like DiversityInc.”

This latest recognition is the most recent of many AT&T has received for its commitment to diversity and inclusion:

* The Human Rights Campaign Foundation recently recognized AT&T for its fair treatment to lesbian, bisexual and transgender employees, consumers and investors.
* AT&T has received a perfect 100 percent score in HRC’s Corporate Equality Index every year since 2004 for its fully inclusive policies that include protection against discrimination, parity of health care benefits for domestic partners and other criteria.
* In 2008, AT&T was recognized as Company of the Year by LATINA Style magazine for being an employer of choice based on its consistent strength in the area of diversity.
* In addition, AT&T was ranked No. 1 among DiversityBusiness.com’s 2008 Top 50 Organizations for Multicultural Business Opportunities, based on the quality of business opportunities that AT&T consistently grants to minority- and women-owned companies. This was the third straight year AT&T has topped the list; it has been included in the overall list every year since its inception nine years ago.

In fostering diversity and inclusion, AT&T seeks to create a better business environment, one that makes it an employer of choice, a preferred business partner and an important contributor to the community. AT&T’s 50-state workforce is 44 percent female and 39 percent people of color. In 2008, AT&T spent $6 billion with diverse suppliers, representing 12 percent of its procurement base. AT&T’s proven record of commitment to supplier diversity includes being one of only 15 corporations that qualify as a member of the prestigious Billion Dollar Roundtable — an elite group of corporations that spends more than $1 billion annually with diverse companies.

AT&T products and services are provided or offered by subsidiaries and affiliates of AT&T Inc. under the AT&T brand and not by AT&T Inc.