April 8, 2021 – CSX President and Chief Executive Officer Jim Foote is “IN” — IN support of hiring people with disabilities and IN the forefront of encouraging other companies to do the same.

Foote recently became the first CEO from a Class I railroad to sign the Disability:IN organization’s CEO Letter on Disability Inclusion. Part of the group’s “Are you IN?” campaign, the CEO letter encourages companies to register for the Disability Equality Index (DEI).

DEI is a comprehensive benchmarking tool that serves as a first step for advancing inclusion of people with disabilities in the workplace. The index helps companies build a roadmap of measurable, tangible actions towards disability inclusion and equality. CSX participates in the DEI and has been recognized as a “Best Place to Work for Disability Inclusion,” an honor based on its annual DEI score.

“By signing the Disability: IN CEO letter on behalf of CSX, I’m hoping other companies will recognize that welcoming and supporting employees with disabilities yields positive results for the business, the broader economy, and the communities we serve.” Foote said.

A 2018 report found that companies that offer inclusive working environments for employees with disabilities achieved substantially higher revenue and profits than their industry peers. Yet people with disabilities continue to be underemployed, representing a large, underutilized resource.

“People with disabilities are making valuable contributions every day to the success of CSX, and we’re proud to be a company where diversity, equity and inclusion are a fundamental part of our culture,” Foote said.