Allegion Wins Inaugural Jackson Lewis Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Champion Award for Indiana

The Indiana Chamber of Commerce has announced Allegion as the inaugural Jackson Lewis Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Champion Award winner, a statewide honor that recognizes an organization making ardent strides to become a more equitable workplace.

Allegion is a global provider of security products and solutions that has its Americas regional headquarters in Carmel.

“Allegion has been proactive and intentional in its (diversity, equity and inclusion or DEI) efforts, not just in the actions the company has taken, but in ensuring the organization had the right voices at the table where decisions were being made,” says Brian McDermott, managing principal of Jackson Lewis’ Indianapolis office and one of the judges of the competition. “Allegion truly has shown it is a leader in the vital DEI space.”

The honor was presented to Allegion at the Indiana Chamber’s first DEI conference: Elevate Indiana: Best Practice for Business and Industry.

DEI is a top priority at Allegion, company officials stress, and is embedded in every facet of the organization – which has more than 11,000 employees globally and 1,300 across four sites as well as working remotely in Indiana.

“As our CEO Dave Petratis has shared, we want Allegion to be a place where racism and bias are rejected, where inclusion is a way of life and where all employees feel they belong and can contribute to our business success,” says Shelley Meador, senior vice president and chief human resource officer at Allegion.

“That doesn’t mean that our team members always have to agree on everything. But what it does mean is that we are ready and equipped to listen, learn and be challenged; that we are open to difficult conversations; and that we are committed to positively impacting each other and our communities, both where we work and live.

“I believe this recognition would be significant for any organization right now – but we are humbled and honored to be receiving it at Allegion,” Meador adds. “For our company, it serves as encouragement that the people of Allegion are making meaningful progress in our engagement, equity, inclusion and diversity journey together – while also recognizing that there’s still much more we can do.” 

Allegion stated in its application for the award that since its beginning as a standalone company in 2013, the organization has held fast to a set of deeply rooted values that have become a way of life for its team members across the globe. Those values include: Serve others, not yourself. Do the right thing. Be empowered and accountable.

Still, the company said after the events of the past year, “we knew that it was time to re-evaluate the social challenges in front of us, to recognize that there is much we don’t know, and to ask ourselves if we were doing enough to make a difference in our communities and the lives of our own employees. … This is a journey, and it needs to be woven into our business’ operating system, not be a feel-good pledge.”

With the support of executive leadership, Allegion has created several programs to advance the organization’s efforts toward inclusivity, including holding small-group conversations with more than 100 Black employees to gain better understanding of their lived experiences, launching a new Inclusion Council where employees could self-nominate to serve one- or two-year terms to further the company’s initiatives, and revamping its women empowerment group – The Allegion Network of Empowered Women.

“We’re pleased to recognize a company like Allegion that is voluntarily doing the right things to move society – and the business community – forward,” says Indiana Chamber President and CEO Kevin Brinegar. “We hope their commitment to having the conversations and then putting policies and programs in place will inspire others to take action.”