Impactivize Reporting by Laura López Ramos – July 22, 2025
On the heels of a recent shareholder vote to preserve its DEI initiatives, energy provider Southern Company is powering through its DEI journey, though not without headwinds.
As one of America’s largest providers of energy, serving 9 million customers across Georgia, Alabama, Mississippi, Tennessee, and Virginia, and employing nearly 28,000 workers, Southern Company’s policies, including its DEI programming, have broad-reaching implications for its workforce and the communities it serves in the Southeast.
While Southern Company has received criticism in recent months for allegedly capitulating to political pressure and adjusting some of its DEI initiatives, including removing references to diversity and equity on its website and scaling back some DEI programs, in May 2025, shareholders overwhelmingly voted (98–2%) to reject an anti-DEI proposal, reinforcing company-wide support for inclusion.
At the heart of Southern Company’s culture is Intentional Inclusion, a core value that drives its approach to organizational equity and community impact. The company’s leadership has stated that an equitable workplace where every employee feels valued benefits everyone—employees, customers, and shareholders alike.
With more than 30 employee-led groups, councils, and networks across its subsidiaries, Southern Company’s organizational culture fosters belonging, community, and connection. This is reflected in its high retention and satisfaction rates, which exceed utility and general industry benchmarks. Its 2023 employee survey revealed that nearly 90% of employees consider Southern Company an excellent place to work.
Southern Company’s success as an employer is due in part to groundbreaking and innovative initiatives. For example, it launched an immersive virtual reality experience for equitable hiring, which trains managers to recognize and address unconscious bias in real-world scenarios. As such, numerous organizations have recognized Southern Company’s corporate culture and hiring practices, such as:
- DiversityInc: Top 50 Companies for Diversity (8th consecutive year); No. 1 for Black Executives; No. 3 for Veterans; No. 5 for Supplier Diversity
- Human Rights Campaign: 100% Corporate Equality Index Score (8 years running)
- Disability Equality Index: Best Places to Work for Disability Inclusion (9 years in a row)
- Forbes & Newsweek: Best Employers for Women, Veterans, and Diversity; America’s Most Trustworthy Companies
- G.I. Jobs: Top 100 Military-Friendly Employer (No. 5 in 2024)
At the community level, company leaders say they are committed to supporting small and local businesses, diversifying skilled trades, and supporting social justice. Southern Company has a robust supplier diversity program, with $2.5 billion spent in 2023, nearly 30% of its total spending. It has also contributed over $200 million toward racial equity and social justice initiatives since 2021, as part of its $225 million ‘Moving to Equity’ goal for 2025.
During a Q&A session at the annual shareholder meeting, President and CEO Chris Womack, who is one of only nine Black Fortune 500 CEOs, emphasized that “each and every employee has a fair shot at achieving their potential” at Southern Company.