[Congressional Record Volume 140, Number 35 (Thursday, March 24, 1994)]
[Senate]
[Page S]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[Congressional Record: March 24, 1994]
From the Congressional Record Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

 
                       WOMEN IN CORPORATE AMERICA

 Mrs. FEINSTEIN. Mr. President, for too long women working in 
corporate America have been bumping their heads on the glass ceiling, 
that invisible but very real barrier to corporate advancement that has 
prevented talented and hardworking women from ascending to the top 
levels of management. It has been an unfortunate blemish on this 
country's otherwise unrivaled record of corporate achievement.
  The good news is, there are some companies who are willing to be real 
leaders when it comes to equal opportunity. These visionary 
corporations are not only breaking away from the pack, but they are 
also breaking the glass ceiling, offering new hope that the rest of 
corporate America may finally wake up and realize that holding back 
talent is a losing business strategy.
  I would like to recognize three visionary companies today because 
they have all earned special recognition this year from Catalyst, an 
organization dedicated to effect change in the workplace for women. The 
companies are the Bank of Montreal, the McDonald's Corp. and Pitney 
Bowes. They have all won the 1994 Catalyst Award, a prestigious award 
that honors businesses for innovative efforts to advance women.
  McDonald's has long been a leader on the employment front, with a 
strong record of hiring, training, and promoting women and minorities. 
The Golden Arches are being recognized by Catalyst for its innovative 
Partnership with Women program, a company wide commitment that has 
produced the Women Operators' Network [WON], a strong and growing 
network of women that makes them real players when it comes to 
opportunity, ownership, and respect. The Women Operators' Network is an 
outstanding model for any company interested in involving more women in 
its future and truly giving them the power they need to break through 
the glass ceiling.
  In particular, the Women Operators' Network is helping spouses of 
existing McDonald's restaurant owners the training necessary to gain 
their own owner/operator status. Through that partnership, McDonald's 
has produced an impressive 300 percent increase in female ownership 
during the past 5 years. Many of these women are right at the top of 
the system when it comes to operational excellence, bottom line 
success, and community involvement.
  Most of us recognize the Golden Arches represent something unique in 
American business. Now we know the Arches also represent opportunity. 
It's a nice addition to the menu. I salute McDonald's for making a real 
difference for women in the workplace.

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