Running head: Socio-Geographic Factors.
Socio-Geographic Factors
University of Phoenix
Socio-Geographic Factors Companies face many factors that affect the ways management can operate the business. In the United States companies are becoming global and facing challenges of attracting and retaining employees. This paper entails Verizon Communications’ policies and procedures that the company uses to address new and old issues that management faces. In today’s society many people come from diverse backgrounds and companies have to learn to work with the differences. Verizon Communications is a leader in providing broadband and other wire line and wireless communication innovations to business, government, mass market and wholesale customers. The company’s wireless operates the country’s most reliable wireless network. Verizon serves nearly 71 million customers nationwide. The company’s Wire line operations consist of Verizon Business, which produces innovative and flawless business solutions to customers around the world, and Verizon Telecom, which brings customers the benefits of congregate communications, information and entertainment services over the nation's most highly developed fiber-optic network. A Dow 30 company, Verizon employs a diverse workforce of more than 228,000 and last year originated working revenues of $93.5 billion (Verizon Communications, p.20).

Class and Work Values Class is described as the process of classifying people based on wealth, income, and education, family heritage, and ethnicity. The classifications are upper-upper class, lower-middle class, and working class that help us understand the variations and stratification. People who share certain characteristics tend to pursue the same lifestyles but in today’s multicultural society, classes tend to be more internally different. But in some countries like the U.S for example, believe in an open system where hard work can move a person from poor to upper class. The person has to be determined to change what class they are and can work hard to achieve the goal of moving up in the class system. However, for other countries birth and family heritage, money and education determines the class system and mobility is a slim chance for these people (Kottak & Kozaitis, ch. 13 p. 2). For some people no matter what they do they can’t move from one class to another just because the family they were born into. Even though this isn’t fair people from other countries have learn to accept the idea. But many people don’t want to accept the class that they are given. Some people petition to come to the United States to make a better life for themselves and their family, The company is one of the biggest providers of wire line and wireless communications in the U.S. and internationally. The company serves millions of customers and it’s essential that they have a comprehensive workforce. Verizon believes that the most influential communications solutions come from the thoughts and ideas of the company’s employees and will distinguish the company in the marketplace. The company’s meaning of diversity includes the range of human differences, including age, race, education, sexual orientation, gender, and work style. Over time Verizon has made diversity an integral part of the business (Verizon Communications, pg. 20). The company has Employee Resource Groups (ERG) which is an initiative on how diverse the company is. Some of the Employee Resource Groups are Asian Pacific Employees for excellence, Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, and Transgender Employees of Verizon and their allies and Hispanic Support Organization. The company has many more groups but it shows that the company is very diverse and people no matter the class are given the opportunity to work for Verizon (Verizon Communications, pg. 20.). For many people applying for other jobs race and gender matter and they don’t even get the opportunity to even apply for the job. Verizon believes that the diverse minds, experiences, culture is what gives the company a competitive advantage. The diversity in the company is a vital connection to the customers, communities and shareholders. Verizon confidently believes that acceptance of diversity in the corporate culture is the right business strategy as well as the right practice to do (Verizon Communications, pg. 20). As a service business, Verizon has pride in the capability to comprehend and respond to the needs of the customer. The company has Multilingual National Centers that are accountable for sales and service to Verizon's small business and consumer customers in many languages, including Russian, Spanish, Mandarin, Korean, Vietnamese, and Cantonese. The company also provides Centers for Customers with Disabilities that give services for customers who are hearing, motion and vision impaired. The teams of employees come from diverse backgrounds that are dedicated to meeting the needs of the customers who have disabilities that may otherwise prevent them from taking advantage of some of the services the Verizon offers (Verizon Communications, pg. 20). Verizon ensures that they hire people from diverse backgrounds in order to fit the needs of the customer base. The goal of Verizon is to have a diversity strategy that the workplace is associated and incorporated where diversity is transparent and that Verizon is a comprehensive organization that leverages the diversity of employees, customers and supplier. The reasoning behind the diversity is to have increased productivity, profitability and enhanced reputation (Verizon Communications, pg. 20). Verizon makes it known that they are a diverse company because the use of advertisement and have publications of ranking high for a diverse company.

Management Issues in a Geographically Mobile Society In today’s geographically mobile society plenty of issues come about that companies face. According to Kottak & Kozaitis (2003), Americans tend to move around a great deal. Many of the people growing up in the United States tend to separate from the ones who raised them losing their family and cultural background. The costs of moving are to lose family and contact with friends can cause pain and sorrow for many. But the main advantage is for more money. In a geographic mobile society results in lower unemployment, higher labor force participation and is flexible for management. The economy encourages flexible hiring and firing practices, and changes in work conditions, types of jobs, and job descriptions. The United States compared with other technologically and economically advanced societies has a more mobile workforce. The major challenge for companies in a geographically mobile society is to attract good employees. According to Business Week Verizon Communication has been named one of the Best Places to Launch a Career. Out of 119 companies Verizon ranked 22nd higher than any other telecommunications company. "Attracting, retaining and developing the best talent is an essential part of Verizon's strategy for continuing a leadership position in broadband communications and bringing to market the next generation of products and innovations," said Marc Reed, Verizon's executive vice president - human resources (Anonymous, 2008). Verizon strives to create an exciting work environment that recognizes and rewards for performance. The company tries to make changes to fit the competing market and keep the employees from looking elsewhere. Verizon has been recognized as a leader in workplace practices by many publications. The company was named No. 1 among the Top 50 companies for Diversity which they have earned the top spot in the last 3 years. As well, for the 3rd consecutive year they have been on the list for Best Companies for Multicultural Women. For the 6th year in a row Verizon have been one of the Top 13 companies on the list for 50 Best Companies for Latinas to Work for in the United States. Lastly the company for the last 4 years has been named the top 15 for Diversity Elite 60, a list that measure company’s commitment to Hispanic hiring, promotion, marketing, and supplier diversity (Anonymous, 2008).

Regional Variations and the Affect Management Planning According to Kottak & Kozaitis (2003), regional variations can include variations in religion, race, ethnicity and speech. The ethnic diversity is increasing in North America, but in some states is more ethically diverse than others are. Management has to learn to work with the different variations and not expect employees to stand by any given culture. Everyone has many ideas and views in what they believe and in order not to have any problems management has to accept people’s differences. Verizon’s leadership team is devoted to ensuring that the company’s workforce mirrors to the customer base. The company’s senior leaders are held accountable for the company’s diversity through incentive programs. Multicultural employees are 30% of the company’s workforce and hold 16% of the company’s top management positions. Most of Verizon’s employees are women, and 29% of them hold key positions (Verizon Communications, pg. 20). The Development and Leadership Initiative, is an agenda intended to increase the direction of diverse employees. The two-year program assists workers to be aware of professional and personal goals, and provides high visibility access to top Verizon executives. The idea of the program focuses on the retention of women and minorities began with Hispanic employees. It has since expanded to include employees who are representative of Verizon’s entire employee base. The Hispanic Association on Corporate Responsibility cited the Development and Leadership Initiative as a "Corporate Best Practice for 2002." (Anonymous, 2008). Verizon has 23 diversity councils in business units across the company with precise strategies on leadership development, mentoring and diversity training. The company also has 12 employee resource groups that promote personal and professional growth for employees with the same interests (Verizon Communications, pg. 20).

Changing Definition of Family and the Affect on the Functions of Management According to Kottak & Kozaitis (2003), in the past decades family structure was defined as a nuclear family. They define family as consisting of two or more people, one of whom is the head of household, living together, who are related by birth, marriage or adoption. But in today’s society family can come in different forms. A family may consist of single parent and children, a domestic partnership, common law marriage, or many generations living together in one household. Verizon has adapted like many companies and offers benefits to the employees and their domestic partner. The company offers medical, dental, vision, prescription drug and life insurance. In today’s society family consists of just a mother, father and child so Verizon offers benefits to the employee and who is considered family whether it be a spouse or domestic partner. The company also offers flexibility for employees who need to balance work and home. The case may be caring for a child or a sick parent. Some positions offer alternative scheduling options, such as flextime. Telecommuting and a compressed work week. Verizon cannot offer this to every position in the company but makes every effort to accommodate the needs of the dedicated employees that they have (Verizon Communications, pg. 20). The company also offers 401(k), tuition assistance, and company discounts. Verizon also has an incentive program that recognizes individual performance in a direct way. The program is a Total Rewards Program that provides eligible employees incentives (cash bonus) to reward individual and company performance. The company also has many other benefits like backup care that reassures employees that they have backup if a regular caregiver is ill or on vacation. This program is intended to help the employee if ever stuck in a crisis. Verizon offers childcare discounts and employees assistance programs to help employees stay healthy (Verizon Communications, pg. 20). The company offers many benefits to attract and retain the employees from looking elsewhere. Verizon offers adoption assistance for employees to expand their families through adoption. The company is there to help with the financial burden by defraying some of the costs. The program also provides time off for the employee to spend with family when needed most. Lastly the company offers paternity leave as well as maternity leave giving the opportunity for each family member to have time off (Verizon Communications, pg. 20). The company offers benefits not only for the employee themselves but for whoever may be considered as family. Times have changed and Verizon has adapted to these changes making it beneficial for the employee.

Conclusion Companies face many socio-geographic factors that influence the ways management conduct the business. The paper outlines that Verizon has already recognized itself as corporate leader in diversity and will continue to keep diversity at the front position of the company. The company addresses many of the socio-geographic factors with policies and flexibility to the employees.

References

Anonymous. (2008). Verizon; BusinessWeek Names Verizon to Magazine’s List of Best Places To Launch a Career, for Third Consecutive Year. Internet Networks & Communications. Atlanta. pg. 60.

Kottak, C.P., & Kozaitis, K.A. (2003). On Being Different: Diversity and Multiculturalism in the North American Mainstream, 2e. Retrieved from https://ecampus.phoenix.edu/content/eBookLibrary/content/eReader.h.

Verizon Communications (n.d). Company Profile. Retrieved January 9, 2008 from: http://www.vzmultimedia.com/diversity/index.asp?PageID=message