At Seramount, we understand the critical role of benchmarking and how important that data is to organizations committed to bettering themselves for the good of their employees.
Our annual survey application offers organizations the chance to showcase their commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion progress (DEI) through five unique initiatives. Each initiative focuses on specific aspects of workplace culture, providing companies with the tools to measure their progress and make meaningful improvements. By participating, companies not only enhance their reputations as DEI leaders but also gain valuable insights through benchmark reporting.
Let’s explore the five initiatives and what makes them distinct.
Seramount’s Annual Application Initiatives
Best Companies for Multicultural Women
The Best Companies for Multicultural Women survey focuses on initiatives around hiring, retaining, and advancing women of color. This initiative recognizes that multicultural women face unique challenges and requires companies to develop specific strategies to support them individually. This is done by assessing each race and ethnicity separately.
Winning companies are featured at Seramount’s Best Companies for Multicultural Women National Conference in Chicago in June, where they can showcase their successes and learn from others.
100 Best Companies
The 100 Best Companies survey was started over 40 years ago when Seramount was Working Mother Media. The survey focuses on a staple of Seramount’s mission, empowering inclusive workplaces for all, and celebrates organizations that foster family-friendly work environments. Companies are evaluated based on family-friendly benefits, such as fully-paid gender-neutral parental leave, menopause benefits, bereavement leave for miscarriages, dependent-care, childcare, flexible work, and fertility reimbursements.
What sets this initiative apart is its focus on measurable results; companies are asked to track employee usage of these benefits, ensuring that policies are not just in place but are actively benefiting employees. Winning companies are honored at the WorkBeyond Summit in New York City every fall, with the opportunity to nominate two Working Parents of the Year to be featured at the WorkBeyond Gala.
To participate, companies must offer at least two weeks of fully paid parental leave to all full-time employees.
Inclusion Index
The Inclusion Index survey offers a comprehensive evaluation for DEI progress. It provides a detailed analysis of diversity policies and practices, enabling companies to compare their efforts to those of others. This initiative helps organizations identify strengths and areas for improvement in their DEI strategies by evaluating three distinct segments: demographics; best practices in recruitment, retention, and advancement; and company culture.
The Inclusion Index participants that are Diversity Best Practices (DBP) members tend to score better than non-members. Those who achieve a threshold on the Index as a Pinnacle (80% threshold) or Leading (70% threshold) Inclusion Index (60% threshold) company are showcased at DBP events and on Seramount’s social media channels.
Top Companies for Executive Women
The Top Companies for Executive Women survey focuses on women’s leadership demographics and recognizes companies that excel in advancing women to senior positions. With a focus on formal mentorship, formal sponsorship, and leadership development programs, this initiative highlights best practices for advancing women to the most senior levels. Notably, it also examines executive profit and loss roles, leadership training, and executive succession planning, which ensures that companies are setting women up for long-term success.
To take part, companies need to have at least two women on their board of directors or governing board. Winning companies serve as role models in achieving gender equity and are featured across Seramount’s social media channels.
The Marketing, Media & Ad Tech Inclusion Index
Targeted specifically at advertising agencies, media companies, and marketers, the Marketing, Media & Ad Tech Inclusion Index is tailored to the needs of the marketing industry. Developed in collaboration with the She Runs It #Inclusive100 consortium, this initiative includes sector-specific questions, addressing key DEI areas such as employee retention, flexible work arrangements, and client management.
This survey is intentionally shorter than the broader Inclusion Index, making it easier for marketing and ad tech companies to participate while still gaining valuable insights into their DEI strategies.
The Value of Seramount’s Annual Application
Seramount’s annual application provides organizations with the opportunity to measure their DEI progress, improve workplace culture, and gain recognition as leaders in diversity and inclusion. Each initiative offers unique insights, tailored to specific challenges, whether it’s supporting working families, promoting women of color, advancing women, or assessing and improving DEI strategies.
Insights gained through benchmark reporting not only can help companies improve internal practices but also can enhance a company’s brand, helping attract top talent and foster a more inclusive workforce. By engaging with Seramount’s Annual Application, organizations can demonstrate their commitment to creating inclusive workplaces where all employees can thrive.
How Can My Company Participate?
Do any of these initiatives sound appealing to your organization? It’s easy to participate and get the full power of DEI benchmarking added to your company’s repertoire.
Who can apply?
US companies with 500 or more employees
What is the cost?
There is no cost to apply with Seramount’s Annual Application. There are no risks to participating. Only winning company names are announced, and no rankings or scores are made public (with the exception of our #1 companies).
Why should my company participate?
Participating in our annual survey is a unique opportunity to compare your DEI efforts to those of your peers, helping you identify areas of strength and opportunities for improvement to better serve your employees. With one streamlined application, there’s no need to choose which initiative to focus on—you can engage with all five initiatives through a single, organized survey. Each company receives a scorecard for every initiative at no cost, along with detailed benchmarking reports and post-survey consultations for a comprehensive, question-by-question analysis.
When can I start my application?
Application will open in December 2024 and run through March 2025. Our registration period will open in November.
