Contact: CONTACT: Helen Trinidad (703) 807-5137
BRINKSTER INTERNATIONAL NAMED TO FORTUNE MAGAZINE'S 'TOP 50 EMPLOYERS FOR MINORITIES'
DALLAS, Aug. 25 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Brinker International,
Inc. (NYSE: EAT) has been recognized by FORTUNE magazine as
one of the "Top 50 Employers for Minorities" for
its achievements in a range of criteria related to corporate
diversity.
Brinker was chosen from a list of the FORTUNE 1000 companies
as well as the 200 largest privately held U.S. companies.
Companies were polled on a variety of topics, including compensation,
managerial diversity, board of director composition, workforce
composition and CEO commitment to diversity.
"At Brinker International, recognizing and celebrating
differences is at the heart of our business," said Doug
Brooks, chairman and CEO of Brinker. "We are deeply honored
to be recognized by FORTUNE for our efforts to foster a business
culture that draws from a wide variety of ideas, skills and
backgrounds and makes career development and advancement available
to everyone throughout our organization.
The doors to professional advancement at Brinker are open
wider than ever for the company's more than 29,000 Hispanic
workers with the March 2005 launch of Sed de Saber, an interactive
English-as-a-second language curriculum designed specifically
for Spanish-speaking team members. Sed de Saber ("Thirst for
Knowledge") is provided on the interactive Quantum Leap Pad
learning platform, allowing students to learn at their own
pace, in the comfort of their own homes. The curriculum teaches
vocabulary, comprehension and pronunciation skills focusing
on words, phrases, expressions and situations service and
hospitality industries. It also helps the user learn English
for situations in everyday life beyond the restaurant.
In addition to professional development and training opportunities
for all employees that promote respect and understanding among
employees of diverse backgrounds, Brinker's diversity initiatives
include ongoing outreach to numerous local and national organizations
that advance minorities in business and the community. Through
active involvement in the National Council of La Raza, NAACP,
the Organization of Chinese Americans, the Multicultural Foodservice
and Hospitality Alliance, the Women's Foodservice Forum and
other groups, the company is filling its pipeline of potential
employees and business partners with strong, diverse talent.
In addition, Brinker also recently received the Corporate
Partner Award from the Dallas chapters of the National Black
MBA Association and the National Society of Hispanic MBAs.
Based in Dallas, Brinker International is a recognized leader
in casual dining and consistently ranked among FORTUNE's Most
Admired Companies. With more than 1,500 locations in 24 countries,
Brinker's restaurant concepts include Chili's Grill &
Bar, Romano's Macaroni Grill, On The Border Mexican Grill
& Cantina, Maggiano's Little Italy and Corner Bakery Cafe.
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