MILWAUKEE, Oct 7, 2004 /PRNewswire-FirstCall via COMTEX/ -- Manpower was named Employer of the Year by the National Business & Disability Council as part of its 2004 Awards of Honor program. The Council, a leader in mainstreaming people with disabilities into the workforce and consumer marketplace, recognizes employers for model outreach, recruitment and employment procedures, as well as workplace accessibility and effective accommodation policies. Manpower shares the national Employer of the Year title with another Wisconsin company, S.C. Johnson & Son, Inc.

"Diversity is the cornerstone of an innovative, productive workforce, and people with disabilities are an important part of that equation," said Barbara J. Beck, executive vice president of U.S. and Canadian operations for Manpower. "Our policies as well as our actions demonstrate our commitment to provide all people with the resources to pursue quality employment opportunities."

Manpower received the Employer of the Year award in recognition of its unique employment programs. The company offers a reverse-funnel assessment approach that identifies a variety of positions a candidate could perform well in, an extensive job training program, in-depth disability awareness and accommodation training for Manpower staff, as well as community partnerships that open employment doors for people with disabilities.

"Manpower's inclusive procedures, educational resources and partnerships have expanded employment opportunities for people with disabilities. Their highly systemized and individualized employment practices ensure that all applicants participate in the same skills assessments and interview process in order to identify the applicants' abilities and find them the best job match," said Edmund L. Cortez, president and CEO of Abilities, Inc. and the National Center for Disability Services.

Manpower will be honored for this achievement on October 14 at the Council's 26th Annual Conference in Las Vegas. During the conference, Manpower will also sponsor "Culture and Disability: Disability in the Diverse Workforce," a session that will explore practical solutions to workplace challenges that arise when culture and disability overlap.

About Manpower

Manpower Inc. (NYSE: MAN) is a world leader in the employment services industry, offering customers a continuum of services to meet their needs throughout the employment and business cycle. The company specializes in permanent, temporary and contract recruitment; employee assessment; training; career transition and organizational consulting services. Manpower's worldwide network of 4,300 offices in 67 countries and territories enables the company to meet the needs of its 400,000 customers per year, including small and medium size enterprises in all industry sectors, as well as the world's largest multinational corporations. The focus of Manpower's work is on raising productivity through improved quality, efficiency and cost-reduction, enabling customers to concentrate on their core business activities. In addition to the Manpower brand, the company operates under the brand names of Right Management Consultants, Jefferson Wells, Elan, Brook Street and Empower. More information on Manpower Inc. is available at http://www.manpower.com .

SOURCE Manpower Inc.

Jodi Zirbel of Manpower Inc., +1-414-906-6453,
jodi.zirbel@na.manpower.com

http://www.manpower.com

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