Culture
Impact and Culture of Caring
PJM has been prioritizing sustainability and corporate social responsibility work for a number of years now. In 2020, major events such as the COVID-19 pandemic and a strong focus on our activities around diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI), climate and our societal impact have cast an even brighter light on our overall purpose and value to members, stakeholders and society at large.
Modern society cannot do without electricity for any material amount of time. Aligned with our critical mission of reliable operations, fair, efficient markets and infrastructure planning, the purpose behind our work is profound. At its core, electricity is a fundamental driver of modern life.
Acknowledging our profound purpose and mission, PJM works to ensure that our social responsibility efforts reflect the values of the diverse communities we serve. In 2020, we adapted the way we report our community impact and social responsibility efforts using an environmental, social and governance (ESG) lens.
Diversity, Equity & Inclusion
A key part of our culture is creating an inclusive environment where each employee can bring their best selves to work. To support this effort, in 2020 PJM renewed its dedication to DEI with a new three-year DEI strategic plan. We seek to continue to foster a workforce that includes a general reflection of the people we serve and to create a workplace that recognizes and nurtures these differences.
Three pillars drive this strategy:
Environmental Impact
As we continue to facilitate state policies regarding emissions on the grid, PJM adheres to environmental principles when it comes to how we operate our campus. Environmental sustainability is evident in all we do as a company. It's more than just an idea – it is part of our culture as an organization.
Emission Reductions 2020
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Campus Enhancements
PJM Named Among Top 100 Adoption-Friendly Companies
With about one in 10 companies offering adoption-friendly employee benefits, PJM is proud to stand out for supporting all kinds of families.
In 2020, the Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption named PJM among the top 100 most adoption-friendly companies in the nation for the 14th consecutive year. PJM also ranked first again in the energy and utility company category.
PJM has been offering substantial financial assistance for adoption-related expenses incurred by full-time employees since 2006. PJM's award-winning policy reimburses families for many types of expenses related to adopting a child, including fees, travel and legal costs.
Caring Through Giving
Pandemic restrictions impeded PJM's ability to support organized in-person volunteering in 2020, but it didn't deter efforts to provide other types of community support. Through two cause-related giving campaigns, one in the spring and one in the fall, PJM employees demonstrated their support for those most impacted by the pandemic and for traditionally underserved communities.
The spring campaign focused on community organizations providing relief to those most impacted by the pandemic. The fall campaign was in partnership with PJM's Diversity & Inclusion Council and provided an opportunity for employees to support organizations focused on science, technology, engineering, arts and mathematics (STEAM) programs in underserved communities.
PJM employees generously responded to the COVID-19 relief and STEAM education campaigns and utilized PJM's matching gift program, with employee contributions totaling $70,000. PJM pledged a generous double match of employee donations, thus tripling the employee contributions to support those most in need in our communities.