Hire and Retain the Best and Brightest

Women and minorities are underrepresented in the technology field, creating a challenge for National Instruments in striving for a diverse workplace. Despite this challenge, NI is committed to maintaining a workforce that reflects the faces of worldwide community members, customers, and colleagues. NI promotes equal employment opportunity for all applicants and employees by recruiting, hiring, training, and promoting persons in all job titles on the basis of job-related ability and performance, without regard to race, gender, age, religion, sexual orientation, disability, veteran status, or national origin. Enhancing and using the abilities of all individuals to their fullest extent continues to fuel the profitable and responsible growth of the company.

NI also encourages employees to participate in community organizations that foster social and economic opportunity for all members of the community. There is even a growing number of extracurricular groups at NI corporate headquarters where employees can meet each other and find something in common with their colleagues outside of work. Extracurricular and personal groups include the NI LGBT group, Canadians at NI, the 9% Weight Loss group, and the NI Women's Network.

In addition, NI takes a long-term approach to the challenge of few women and minorities in the technology field by working to enhance science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) education. NI promotes classroom mentorship, student events, and collaborations with organizations such as Girlstart, with the goal of inspiring students to pursue technical careers. NI Germany even offers an annual "Girl's Day" event where students are invited to visit the NI office to learn about jobs in engineering. At the university level, NI has a goal in 2011 to collaborate with student organizations to tailor recruiting events for women and minorities.

NI Women's Network
Beginning in 2009, female employees at NI gathered to form a group with the goal of connecting and empowering women at NI to foster career growth, develop leadership skills, and inspire future generations of women in the community. In 2010, the group selected a steering committee to provide leadership for the network and hosted several events including a discussion about negotiation tactics for women and a presentation from a local female business owner.

NI Board Member Diversity
The percentage of female and minority board members decreased from 2009 to 2010 due to a change in the total number of board members when one board member was added in 2010.