Press Release / FedEx Spotlight
FedEx Recognizes Diverse Staff in Honor of International Women’s Day
Diverse, dynamic workplace central to company’s success in delivering award-winning customer experience.
(Stansted, UK) March 6, 2008 – FedEx Express, a subsidiary of FedEx Corp. (NYSE: FDX), in honor of International Women’s Day on March 8, underlines its commitment to foster a positive work environment in which all its employees have an opportunity to achieve their personal career aspirations.
FedEx is committed to supporting all their employees and has won recognition across the world for its ongoing drive to hire the right people for the right jobs irrespective of gender, ethnicity, sexual orientation or creed.
The logistics industry has traditionally been perceived as male-orientated. FedEx has implemented a number of schemes across Europe, the Middle East, Indian Subcontinent and Asia to hire and retain a diverse range of staff. FedEx employees play a central role in helping the company fulfil the needs of its diverse customer base.
FedEx Express in the UK caters for all its staff by offering flexible working arrangements beyond the statutory requirement which states that parents with children under the age of six must be offered flexible working opportunities. Additionally new mums receive a welcome bonus on returning to work from maternity leave.
Antje Schuett-Fahrenkrog, Vice President Customer Experience, Europe, Middle East, Indian Subcontinent and Africa, said: “I started working with FedEx as a student in the data entry department 23 years ago and have been given every opportunity to to progress my career ever since. The logistics industry may traditionally be seen as male-dominated, but my experience with FedEx, its customers, partners and suppliers has been very different. There has been no ‘glass ceiling’ on what I can achieve as a female manager with this company. I never had to sacrifice my most important objective in my life: the existence and well-being of my family.”
Profile: Wendy Dean, HR Director, FedEx UK
Wendy joined FedEx UK 17 years ago when it was still known as ANC and has been HR Director since 2002.
She won the Personnel Today HR Director of the Year award in 2006 and firmly believes that women should be themselves in the workplace.
There are three female directors out of a board of 12 at FedEx UK.
In her opinion, women can balance a team, offering an alternative dimension whilst enhancing the qualities of a team.
Wendy is proud of FedEx UK flexible working policies which she says has brought tangible business benefits to the company by improving staff retention and increasing morale.
She also thinks that women add value to any workforce as they bring a fresh perspective to approaching an issue or problem.
Wendy said: “There are plenty of opportunities for women at FedEx. People are sometimes only limited by their own limitations.”
Profile: Yvonne Sullivan, Senior Operations Manager
As a senior operations manager, Yvonne Sullivan is responsible for 129 employees across three sites in Manchester, Birmingham and Leicester. Yvonne joined FedEx Express 20 years ago and has worked in a variety of different roles since joining the company. She suggests that the best thing a woman can do “is let people know that you’re as competent, confident and able to deal with their problems as any man would be.”
About FedEx Corp.
FedEx Corp. (NYSE: FDX) provides customers and businesses worldwide with a broad portfolio of transportation, e-commerce and business services. With annual revenues of $36 billion, the company offers integrated business applications through operating companies competing collectively and managed collaboratively, under the respected FedEx brand. Consistently ranked among the world's most admired and trusted employers, FedEx inspires its more than 290,000 employees and contractors to remain "absolutely, positively" focused on safety, the highest ethical and professional standards and the needs of their customers and communities.
Keywords: diversity initiatives | International Women's Day | women in the workplace | workplace environment
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