Jerome Smalls, Mgr. of Diversity Staffing

TJX -- the $12 billion Framingham-based parent company for TJMaxx and Marshall's, the country's largest off-price retailer chains -- employs more than 100,000 associates in the U.S., Europe and Canada. "At TJX, we do not view diversity as a standalone program. Our objective is to weave diversity throughout the tapestry of everything that we do," says Jerome Smalls, the manager of diversity staffing for the TJX Companies Inc. "In finance, human resources, merchandising, buying, information technology, as well as in our stores, regional offices and distribution centers, we believe that our diversity behind the scenes can directly impact the diversity of our product mix. If we have diverse people buying merchandise, and if we have diversity in our human resources department, then we are going to have a degree of sensitivity about what the customers -- and what our fellow associates -- need."

ILLUSTRATOR: TODD DAVIDSON

Smalls looks to diversity hiring in order to create the diverse mix of merchandise that the customers -- from London to Puerto Rico to Harlem to Montreal -- are looking for. "Customers want to walk into our stores and see diversity among our associates, and they want to see diversity in the richness of merchandise they find on our shelves. So if we have people of all different races and nationalities and life styles working for us, we will better understand the diverse needs of the customer, and will be able to enhance the customer's experience. Diversity, of course, is the right thing to do. But it can also move an organization ahead, both in sales and overall morale within the organization."

ALSO:
Creating a culture of inclusion
Survey: Diversity initiatives critical to job seekers

CORPORATE PROFILES
Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center
Blue Cross Blue Shield
Citizens Bank
New York Times Co.
Raytheon
TJX Companies, Inc.

This special advertising feature is sponsored by participating advertisers and ran in edited form on September 14, 2003 in The Boston Globe Magazine and The New York Times Magazine. It was written and reported by Jason Forsythe and did not involve the reporting or editing staff of The Boston Globe or The New York Times. © 2003 The Boston Globe.