Employment Practices

Our Approach

Black & Decker understands that hiring and retaining high-quality employees is critical to our success.  Therefore, our Policies and Practices are designed to ensure that:

  • the best candidates are hired, free of discrimination in the hiring process;
  • employees’ rights are safeguarded; and
  • a competitive and wide-ranging benefit plan is offered to employees.

Policy and Practice

a. Code of Ethics and Standards of Conduct

Black & Decker’s Code of Ethics and Standards of Conduct contain the following two sections on employment practices.

Discrimination and Harassment:

While employees and applicants for employment must be qualified and meet the job requirements established by the Corporation, it is the Corporation’s policy to ensure that no employee or applicant for employment is discriminated against in recruitment, hiring, training, or promotion because of age, race, color, religion, sex, national origin, handicap, disability, marital status, or veteran status. It is also the policy of the Corporation to provide a workplace free of harassment based on these factors. A violation of these policies may also be a violation of applicable law that exposes both the Corporation and the guilty individual to liability. Violations may be reported to the Corporation’s Senior Vice President–Human Resources.

In General:

It is the policy of the Corporation to comply with applicable employment laws, including those governing working conditions, wages, hours, benefits, and minimum age for employment, wherever it conducts business. The use of prison, forced, or compulsory labor is not permitted. Employees have the right to join any legal organization for the purpose of collective bargaining or to refrain from joining any such organization, and employees will not be penalized for exercising this right. Violations may be reported to the Corporation’s Senior Vice President–Human Resources.

b. Employee Benefits

The company offers a wide range of benefits to employees in the United States and their families.  In general, the company either subsidizes the cost of the coverage or offers discounted rates. 

  • Medical
  • Prescription Drugs
  • Vision Care
  • Dental Care
  • Employee Assistance Program
  • Behavioral Health Benefits
  • Child and Elder Care Referral
  • 401(k) Plan
  • Dependent Care Reimbursement Account
  • Health Care Reimbursement Account
  • Life Insurance
  • Disability Plan
  • Group Universal Life Insurance
  • Discounted Prices on Black & Decker Products
  • Vacation

The company also offers competitive benefit plans in other countries.

c. Additional Information

At the end of 2006, Black & Decker employed approximately 25,500 persons in its operations worldwide.  Approximately 37% of the employees at that time were based in the United States.

At the end of 2006, approximately 500 employees in the United States were covered by collective bargaining agreements.  The company’s operations have not been significantly affected by work stoppages.

Although the company’s actions to reduce costs, such as production transfers, outsourcing and plant closures, can potentially damage employee relations, Black & Decker currently believes that its employee relations are good.