Southern Company has been named one of the 40 Best Companies for Diversity by Black Enterprise magazine.

Southern Company was recognized for its leadership in and commitment to diversity and inclusion in employment and business practices.

"Southern Company understands the value of a workplace where every employee feels valued and respected," said Southern Company Services Vice President of Human Resources Stacy R. Kilcoyne. "It's not just a corporate performance goal – sustaining a culture of excellence through inclusion is imperative to serving customers."

As part of its long-standing commitment, Southern Company's focus on ensuring diversity is reflected in leadership, workforce and suppliers, including its award-winning efforts in recruiting military veterans and people with disabilities. The company, through its subsidiaries, strives to be an employer of choice by offering a stable work environment, dynamic culture and competitive pay and benefits package.

In selecting the 40 Best Companies for Diversity, Black Enterprise conducted a comprehensive survey of the top 1,000 publicly traded companies and 100 leading global companies with significant operations in the United States – focusing on activities related to the participation of African-Americans and other ethnic minority groups as defined by the U.S. Census Bureau. Key areas of consideration included employee base, senior management, board of directors and supplier diversity.