Whirlpool Corporation, the world’s leading manufacturer and marketer of major home appliances, holds at its core values the principles of respect, diversity and inclusion. Whirlpool has long believed that honoring differences provides in an environment where all employees can fully contribute. The helps the company achieve its vision of being in “Every Home… Everywhere” by providing innovative solutions to meet its customer needs around the world.
Whirlpool Corporation policies include domestic partner benefits and workplace diversity training, but the company realizes that these policies alone aren't enough to ensure equality. By supporting national LGBT organizations such as Out & Equal, the Human Rights Campaign and PFLAG, the company drives awareness of LGBT issues for employees and the community.
Whirlpool Corporation’s commitment to diversity and inclusion has helped the company to become a global leader in consumer-relevant innovation. Diversity of thought among its employees leads to being more creative, more innovative and more engaged.
Whirlpool Corporation is proud to be the first and only appliance manufacturer to receive 100 percent on the Human Rights Campaign’s Corporate Equality Index. The company has received a perfect score on the Index for nine consecutive years. Whirlpool understands that moving toward full equality helps to improve lives… one home and one family at a time.
Accepting the 2013 Straight for Equality in the Workplace award is Jeff M. Fettig, chairman and CEO of Whirlpool Corporation. Fettig became Whirlpool Corporation's chairman and chief executive officer effective July 2004. He previously served as president and chief operating officer and was first elected to the Whirlpool board of directors in June 1999.
Fettig actively supports all of the diversity employee resource groups at Whirlpool. Last year Fettig shared his personal story of being an out ally for the LGBT employees at the PRIDE Network-hosted Straight for Equality training sessions.
He says, “We are all responsible to ensure Whirlpool is a place where employees from all walks of life feel comfortable working here because they know they can grow and reach their fullest potential regardless of gender, race, religion, nationality and sexual identity or orientation.”
Fettig joined Whirlpool in 1981 as an operations associate. He held a number of managerial positions in Operations, Sales, Planning and Product Development before being promoted to vice president, Marketing, KitchenAid Appliance Group, in July 1989. In October 1990, he was named vice president, Marketing, for the Philips Whirlpool Appliance Group of Whirlpool Europe B.V., the company's European subsidiary, and he was named vice president, Group Marketing and Sales, North American Appliance Group, in October 1992. In 1994 he was named an executive vice president of Whirlpool and president, Whirlpool Europe and Asia.