As an employer of more than 12,000 veterans of the armed forces, we realize both the benefits of employing our nation’s heroes and the importance of supporting them when they are called to serve.

We actively recruit military personnel transitioning to the civilian workforce and our Emergency Military Leave benefits are second to none. We do this not only because it’s the right thing to do, but also because it makes smart business sense. Veterans have superb leadership skills and great adaptability.

At Verizon, diversity means recognizing what we all share in common, embracing differences and promoting an inclusive organization that values a wide range of perspectives. Our diversity enables us to better understand the needs of our customers, suppliers and communities. It’s smart business and it’s the right thing to do.

Last year, Verizon worked to address gaps in health care for people of color. We partnered with health care provider Anthem to reach out. . . 

Staying well is probably at or near the top of just about everyone’s list of priorities. I know it’s one of mine.

In 2010 Verizon provided health care benefits of $3.6 billion to almost 800,000 employees, retirees and their dependents.

A strong focus on wellness and safety helps employees enjoy a better quality of life and contribute to Verizon’s success.

Recently, Verizon was named to the 2011 list of 'Most Valuable Employers for Military' by CivilianJobs.com, an organization that helps connect America’s military with civilian jobs. They cited our “commitment to recruiting and retaining employees who have military experience” as a main reason for naming Verizon to the list.

While we’re humbled by this recognition, we’re also pleased that it allows us to get the word out about our support for the military within our own ranks.

Verizon’s Senior Vice President – Corporate Responsibility Kathy Brown recently talked about Verizon’s commitment to being a good corporate citizen.

We’ve captured Kathy’s thoughts on our approach to corporate responsibility in six short videos that I’ll be posting over the next few weeks. 

This week:  Telling Our Story. . .

Verizon’s Senior Vice President – Corporate Responsibility Kathy Brown recently talked about Verizon’s commitment to being a good corporate citizen.

 We’ve captured Kathy’s thoughts on our approach to corporate responsibility in six short videos that I’ll be posting over the next few weeks. 

This week:  Leadership. . .

I spoke recently at a conference held by the Boston College Center for Corporate Citizenship.  It was a great opportunity to reflect on the whole idea of core values and what they mean to a company. Does it matter which values we choose or is just having a prescribed set of core values enough?

Since 1912, the Better Business Bureau has been a mainstay for both consumers and businesses to find reliable information and to build confidence and trust in one another. Each year the Council of Better Business Bureaus awards companies that mirror its values through its International Torch Awards.

Last evening, Verizon was a recipient of the 2010 Torch Award in the category of marketplace excellence.   

On Tuesday, February 23, the Disability Issues Awareness Leaders (DIAL) Employee Resource Group in conjunction with the American Association of Persons with Disabilities (AAPD) conducted the second in a series of Disability Mentoring Day webinars for students with disabilities and various agencies who work to find employment for students.

The next webinar will be held March 16.

Verizon has served as the corporate partner for disability mentoring day for the past few years but this year we changed things up a bit to serve a broader population on a more consistent basis. We partnered with the American Association of People with Disabilities to reach more prospective employees through a web-based seminar.