| Diversity
in Action Samsung
Electionics is building relationships The
company is Korean-owned, but its local offices aim to reflect the population they
serve. Some techies get to go to Korea for training
Just
by bringing Americans into the company we've started the diversity process," says
Greg James with a twinkle in his eye. James is a human resources manager for Samsung
Electronics America, Inc (SEA).  | | As
part of its Four Seasons program, Samsung donated $140,000 to Magic Johnson and
his foundation to put on a basketball clinic at a local, minority-serving school. |
"SEA
has a unique character," he explains. "Because the company is Korean, our approach
is to integrate people from the localities and regions where subsidiaries are
located. We work closely with our counterparts in Seoul, but our own offices are
very cosmopolitan. We have every nationality here." Samsung
Electronics Corp (SEC) is a manufacturer of semiconductors, telecommunications,
flat panel displays and digital convergence technology. SEA
is the North American sales and marketing organization for SEC. The subsidiary
is responsible for the marketing and sales of products like TVs, cell phones,
VCRs, DVD players, computer monitors, printers, fax machines, home appliances
and more. Consumer product designs from global R&D centers are primarily manufactured
in Korea, but are localized for each regional market. Most
of the people the company hires have two or more years of experience. Samsung
seeks people with both business experience and a technical background, says James. That's
because most current opportunities at SEA are not strictly technical. For example,
James explains, "Our product marketing people have technical backgrounds and work
with Korea on product design. They're involved in the entire process, from concept
of a product to the actual production." As
a result, much of the company's recruiting is done in the electronics industry.
SEA's U.S. website offers candidates access to all open positions in this country.
"The system tracks skill sets, and if it finds a match for you, you'll be notified,"
says James.
Samsung Electronics
America, Inc
www.samsungusa.com
| Headquarters:
|
Ridgefield Park, NJ | |
Employees:
|
70,000 (overall corporation) | |
Revenues: |
$33.76 billion (overall corporation) | |
Business: |
Consumer electronics, telecommunications, IT devices, semiconfuctors, memory |
| |
Some
SEA people are dispatched from Korea, and some local employees are sent to tech
training programs in Korea. But in general the offices reflect the communities
in which they are located. In
the coming year, SEA plans to increase its involvement in diversity career fairs
and to implement more internal diversity programming. Currently, a work/life 800
number connects employees who are spread across the continent. They can interact
and find support for personal issues like divorce and single parenting via teleconferencing.
The company hopes to add more programs targeting specific groups. This
extensive assistance program also helps with personal problems ranging from drug
addiction or depression to obtaining a mortgage or auto loan. SEA
also offers flexible work arrangements. James, for example, comes in late and
leaves early on Mondays when he needs to take his daughter to and from school.
SEA's 401(k)
is matched, dollar for dollar, up to 5 percent of an employee's salary, with the
matched funds fully vested after two years of employment. And after two years
with the company, employees are also eligible for tuition assistance and technical
training options. The
Asian influence on the company is felt in a variety of ways, James notes. The
health plan, for example, offers benefits for non-traditional medicine. The company
recently started "Samsung's Four Seasons of Hope," a program that supports community-
and family-based foundations (www.fourseasonsofhope.com).
The company
also supports a scholarship program with the American Legion for families of Korean
War veterans. SEA
is developing its succession planning process, and reviewing evaluation programs
to ensure fairness. Newly created awards offer recognition for extraordinary business
efforts. "Our
goal," says James, "is to build relationships - and to build diversity within
those relationships." D/C | 
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