The National Association for Female Executives (NAFE) has listed Xerox, distributed throughout sub-Saharan Africa by Bytes Document Solutions, as one of the "The Top 30 Companies for Executive Women". This is the fifth year Xerox has received this honour.
As a women`s professional and business association, NAFE annually evaluates organisations according to criteria such as pay equity, career opportunities and benefits. Organisations must have at least two women on the board to be eligible for listing.
"We measure companies on every aspect of women`s advancement, including training programmes, manager accountability for women`s advancement, succession planning and work-life balance programmes," says Dr Betty Spence, NAFE president. "Xerox can be proud of its continually rising numbers of women in senior management, clearly the result of giving attention to pertinent women-related issues. Xerox understands the business value of diversity in the work- and marketplace."
According to 2005 year-end data, 27% of Xerox employees at the level of vice-president and above are women. Three women serve on the Xerox board of directors and nearly one-third of corporate officers are women, including Xerox`s chairman and CEO.
35% of people employed at Bytes Document Solutions are women; and, in line with employment equity policy, the company is working towards populating executive positions with women. Already it has made significant progress in this area, five at senior management with 37 women in middle management positions and 85 in junior management and supervisory positions.
Rob Abraham, MD of Bytes Document Solutions, says: "For over 30 years Xerox and its partners have worked to nurture a culture where diversity and difference is not only accepted but encouraged. This attitude is vital for hi-tech companies which need creative, world-class technical and business talent to continue delighting diverse global customers and driving business success."
NAFE`s list was developed from research conducted by association staff and questionnaires completed by participating companies.
The association was founded in 1972 and is part of Working Mother Media, which also operates Working Mother magazine.
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As the authorised Xerox distributor to 24 sub-Saharan countries, Bytes Document Solutions, previously known as Xerox South Africa, is engaged in the marketing and servicing of the complete range of Xerox document equipment, software, solutions and services, and operating through an extensive network of dealers, concessionaires and channel partners. With black economic empowerment partner Kagiso Holdings owning a 27% stake of the business, it is a wholly owned member of the JSE Securities Exchange-listed Bytes Technology Group.
For more information on Bytes Document Solutions and Xerox, visit www.xerox.com/news.
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