ATLANTA, May 18, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Southern Company has been named among DiversityInc's Top 50 Companies for Diversity for the second consecutive year, rising two spots to No. 44. Additionally, Southern Company was named the No. 1 Company for Progress and No. 5 among the Top Companies for Veterans.

"At Southern Company, we are committed to the notion that true diversity refers not only to diversity of human attributes, but also diversity of thought and cultural perspective," said Nancy Sykes, chief human resources officer for Southern Company Services.

According to DiversityInc, Southern Company rose in the rankings due to a "commitment to diversity and inclusion." The publication lauded Southern Company for diversity among its team of managers and Board of Directors, as well as participation in and openness of employee resource groups, which DiversityInc notes are open to more employees than ever.

Southern Company also ranked No. 1 among the Top Companies for Progress – the list recognizing companies that excel in providing equitable opportunity for all employees and that hire, promote, retain and nurture diverse employees – and No. 5 among the Top Companies for Veterans – recognizing those companies with the best results in recruiting and promoting veterans.

Derived from corporate survey submissions, the annual survey is considered among the most rigorous, data-driven analyses of its kind. Through an independent, metrics-driven evaluation, U.S. employers' diversity management is assessed in four key areas:

• Talent Pipeline: workforce breakdown, recruitment, diameter of existing talent, structures
• Talent Development: employee resource groups, mentoring, philanthropy, movement, fairness
• Leadership Accountability: responsible for results, personal communications, visibility
• Supplier Diversity: spend with companies owned by people from underrepresented groups, accountability, support

To view DiversityInc's 2017 Top 50 Companies for Diversity list and 2017 Specialty Lists, visit http://www.diversityinc.com/top50. The publication announced the rankings May 2nd during an awards dinner in New York City.

About Southern Company
Southern Company (NYSE: SO) is America's premier energy company, with 46,000 megawatts of generating capacity and 1,500 billion cubic feet of combined natural gas consumption and throughput volume serving 9 million customers through its subsidiaries. The company provides clean, safe, reliable and affordable energy through electric operating companies in four states, natural gas distribution companies in seven states, a competitive generation company serving wholesale customers across America and a nationally recognized provider of customized energy solutions, as well as fiber optics and wireless communications. Southern Company brands are known for excellent customer service, high reliability and affordable prices that are below the national average. Through an industry-leading commitment to innovation, Southern Company and its subsidiaries are inventing America's energy future by developing the full portfolio of energy resources, including carbon-free nuclear, 21st century coal, natural gas, renewables and energy efficiency, and creating new products and services for the benefit of customers. Southern Company has been named by the U.S. Department of Defense and G.I. Jobs magazine as a top military employer, recognized among the Top 50 Companies for Diversity by DiversityInc, listed by Black Enterprise magazine as one of the 40 Best Companies for Diversity and designated a Top Employer for Hispanics by Hispanic Network. The company has earned a National Award of Nuclear Science and History from the National Atomic Museum Foundation for its leadership and commitment to nuclear development and is continually ranked among the top energy companies in Fortune's annual World's Most Admired Electric and Gas Utility rankings. Visit our website at www.southerncompany.com.

SOURCE Southern Company