West Virginia: Welcoming & Accepting of All

The West Virginia Chamber of Commerce speaks for business. Our members consistently tell us that they value a diverse and inclusive workplace, and that those policies lead to better outcomes for their business and employees. In support of these values, the West Virginia Chamber of Commerce is launching a "West Virginia: Welcoming and Accepting" campaign. We are asking our members to sign onto this commitment, and we will be sharing this message with the newly-elected Legislature to showcase the business case for diversity and inclusion. Below is a brief statement that represents the views of the members of the West Virginia Chamber of this issue. If you would like to add your company's name to this list, please e-mail Kaylin Jorge at kjorge@wvchamber.com

Our Statement

The business case for diversity and inclusion is real. Diversity in the workplace is beneficial. People with different backgrounds bring different perspectives and create a more robust, stimulating, and vibrant environment from which everyone can learn and grow. In turn, the expanded base of knowledge leads to more creativity and innovation in the workplace, and thus leads to better economic outcomes that benefit us all.

The members of the West Virginia Chamber of Commerce employ over half of the state's workforce, giving the Chamber a large and influential voice to articulate workforce needs and preparedness. These members understand that there are numerous types of diversity within our culture. This includes gender, race, age, religion, national origin, sexual orientation and gender identity. Multiple studies confirm the economic reality that diversity and non-discrimination policies are good for business. These studies also show that employers with non-discrimination policies enjoy greater productivity and lower workplace turnover.