WASHINGTON — Amtrak has been named one of America’s Best Employers for Diversity in 2023 according to Forbes, which released its list ranking the top 500 companies on Tuesday.
The rail passenger operator placed 341st, eighth among transportation and logistics firms. New York’s Metropolitan Transportation Authority was the only other rail-related organization to make the list, in 417th place.
“Amtrak is building a new era of passenger rail that will change how America moves,” Amtrak Executive Vice President and Chief Human Resource Officer Quiana Spain said in a press release. “This includes a comprehensive diversity and inclusion strategy that supports recruiting, developing and retaining our people. Being recognized as Forbes Best Employers for Diversity validates our efforts as we work to deliver more trains to more people.”
The company was recognized last year for diversity by the Disability Equality Index and the Human Rights Campaign Foundation’s 2022 Corporate Equality Index. It was also cited by Forbes earlier this year as one of America’s Best Large Employers [see “Amtrak named to Forbes list …,” Trains News Wire, Feb. 17, 2023].
Insurance company Progressive led the Forbes diversity list, determined by a survey of 45,000 employees. Full methodology in determining the rankings is explained here.
If they want real diversity, they should hire an actual railroader.
Whatever happened to customer service, reliability, on time performance and good will ? All the things that made a company especially in transportation great and respectable and those qualities and assets that made the publi want to travel on that railroad. Great railroads like the Santa Fe, Pennsylvannia, New York Cental and Union Pacific built their companies on providing great service, hospitality and reliability and were the blue ribbon and gold standard for those giants of the rails. While diversity is important in today’s world, let us not forget the basic principles and standards of what makes a company great and builds a healthy customer base as well as create profits and respectibility. Good service great customer satisfaction and reliability. I noticed in this article that the MTA also made this diversity list. No surprise here The MTA is also dysfuctional , mixed up and run by political hacks with no knowledge or clues on how mass transit operates but is forever getting deeper into financial ruin because of poor business practices and is also always dependent on government bailouts to keep their heads above water and of course only see fare increases and service cutbacks as their only solution to stay out of total collapse and keep the remains of train and bus service running after cutbacks
Joseph C. Markfelder
How does this improve customer service and on time performance? I wish Amtrak would show us how.
This may be why Amtrak is in so much trouble. Hiring to meet diversity goals rather than for train operations and maintenance goals.
If I was a “diversity, inclusion and equity” hire, would I be humiliated that I was not hired on merit, or would I smile all the way to the bank? Would the thought even cross my mind?
Always a few really dumb comments on this site.
Mr. Thompson, as usual, flatters himself.
Now I see why Progressive’s commercials are so moronic.
Bit off topic, ey? Anyway, to me Stephanie Courtney (“Flo”) is rather cute. Is it that she’s left-handed that bothers you?
While we’re totally off-topic, I’m going to post something off-topic. Driving WB on I-80 crossing from Council Bluffs into Omaha, there’s two UPRR locos on display on a high bluff. A steamer and a diesel. Never knew these were there. Even I, who wouldn’t cross the street to see a Union Pacific train, was very impressed that the corporation would create this display. Magnificent.
A top employer for DEI-ESG-WOKE but not so much for running trains.
Bullseye