Workplace Diversity—An American Hallmark

by Filed Under: Business Blog

Jevin Sackett Business People Corporate White Collar Worker Office ConceptPerhaps more than any other nation, the United States is—at its core—a land of diversity.

And this diversity is found in all aspects of our existence. For example, climatically—the American flag is flown over virtually every climate known to Man; from the arctic lands of Alaska, through the rainforests of the Northwest, the sub-tropical climes of Hawaii and Florida, to the vast deserts of the Southwest or the wide open prairies of the Midwest, the American climate truly runs the gamut.

The same is true economically–the U.S. also boasts one of the most diverse economic foundations in the world. Despite some fundamental changes to the economic structure of the country over the last three decades—the decline of manufacturing and the rise of the service sector being the most notable—few, if any nations can lay claim to the range of employment opportunities that exist in America.

From the world’s leading high tech and financial services companies, through what is still one of the globe’s largest manufacturing bases, to the thriving energy sector, and our undisputed leadership in arts and entertainment, America’s diverse GNP continues to be a dominant economic force well into the 21st century.

Economic diversity also plays a large role in the continuing success of our company, Sackett National Holdings (SNH). Through our subsidiaries, SNH is a leading national player in a variety of critical business sectors, including the aforementioned financial services industry (via SettlementOne Credit & SettlementOne Valuation); the automotive industry (via National Credit Center); the nation’s energy sector (via Sperian Energy); and the hiring process of new employees in virtually all industries nationwide (via PeopleFacts).

Not surprising, then, that workplace diversity is also one of the core principals of the modern American workplace, including all the subsidiaries of SNH.

And although there are (very legitimate) legal reasons for this, I would proffer that a diverse workplace is also good business practice. For many of the same reasons that financial advisors will tell their clients to invest in a diverse portfolio, it is also a wise business decision for a company to have a diverse workforce comprised of the best and brightest employees.

As I discussed in a recent posting, recruiting the highest quality employees is often a daunting task, and one that can help determine the future success—or failure—of any organization. No matter what role an employee plays within a business, their skills and acumen either add to–or diminish–that company’s chances for success.

Simply put, we want to hire the best available candidates for every opening, regardless of their sex, race, color or age. And in all candor, while there are many reasons for doing so, having a workplace as diverse as the nation just makes good business sense.

Workplace diversity is more than just a question of ‘political correctness’, or adhering to legal requirements. With the economy rebounding, as companies scramble to hire the best employees from a shrinking pool of available candidates, smart executives understand that it’s just a wise business decision to select the very best candidates from the widest possible range of applicants.

The old adage that ‘variety is the spice of life’ is, in fact, a truism in modern America. And nowhere is it truer–or wiser–to welcome that variety and diversity than in the workplace.

At the end of the day, it’s the right, smart and, indeed, the American thing to do.

Recruit the Best and Brightest

by Filed Under: Business Blog

Jevin Sackett recruiting SNH

As CEO of Sackett National Holdings (SNH), Jevin Sackett fully understands the critical importance of recruiting only the best and brightest available employees.

In addition to his role as CEO of a successful and rapidly growing holding company, Jevin’s expertise on the subject of employee recruitment is informed by his experiences with SNH’s subsidiary–PeopleFacts–a national leader in the employee screening industry.

Read Jevin’s informative views on what to look for when a company is in search of the highest quality candidates: click here.

Free Speech: Liberty’s Greatest Defense

by Filed Under: Business Blog

Jevin Sackett Freedom of Speech“Whoever would overthrow the liberty of a nation must begin by subduing the freedom of speech”—Benjamin Franklin

In the wake of recent events in Paris, we’re reminded of the timelessness of Ben Franklin’s cautionary words, and the critical role that free speech plays in the preservation of liberty in a democracy.

Of course, a major component of a democracy’s commitment to free speech is its willingness to protect freedom of the press. And while it’s true that the business world and the media sometimes find themselves cast into opposing corners, it’s equally true that each party plays a vital role in a healthy democracy.

The Founding Fathers understood that then, as now, media in all its forms—print, broadcast, and, more recently, online—provide a key foundation upon which democracy is built; for its part, a thriving business community promotes healthy competition and innovation, both of which are also key components of any modern democracy.

As CEO of a growing, successful business, I know full well the critical role that business media play in providing me with useful insight and information that informs many of my business decisions. And as the head of a leading Las Vegas-based business, I am always willing—indeed, happy and proud—to share our company’s story with members of the media. (A recent example of business media interest in Sackett National Holdings can be seen here in a feature story, by the Las Vegas Business Press)

While occasional media excesses may sometimes make it easy to generalize, and cast a negative pall over all media, the fact is that the media industry itself is an enormous, thriving business that employs thousands of Americans in a wide variety of jobs.

As a proponent of information technology–and free speech–I also take pleasure in the fact that modern technology has resulted in an explosion of media outlets; the resulting increase in sources of news and information has also opened the door to hundreds of thousands of previously unheard voices. That, too, is welcome news.

In a democracy, we believe that there is no such thing as “too much” freedom of speech. However, that does not mean that even in a democracy there are no limits placed on free speech.

It has been almost a century since Justice Oliver Wendell Holmes’ famed quote regarding the limits of free speech. In 1919’s Schenck vs. The United States, Justice Holmes famously wrote, on behalf of a unanimous Supreme Court, that “the most stringent protection of free speech would not protect a man falsely shouting fire in a crowded theater and causing a panic.”

In other words, even in the world’s greatest democracy, free speech is not limitless.

Still, the U.S. Supreme Court has also issued countless decisions regarding freedom of speech that—quite correctly—defended the extensive limits of free speech, even to the point of allowing it to occur when it may be deemed offensive by some.

For more than two centuries, that defense of free speech has been a hallmark of American democracy, and it is one we proudly share with our democratic friends and allies such as France.

And while Justice Holmes’ was correct that free speech does have its limits, recent events in Paris also serve as a stark reminder that Ben Franklin’s warning was prescient: a democratic nation’s liberty is, indeed, contingent on its willingness to promote–and defend—both free speech and freedom of the press.