In a rigorous assessment of LGBTQ-inclusive workplace policies and practices, more than 680 companies were designated a Best Place to Work for LGBTQ Equality by the HRC Foundation for their efforts in satisfying all of the CEI’s criteria results, earning them a 100 percent rating. C&S Wholesale Grocers Inc. in Keene earned a 90.
The CEI rates companies and top law firms on detailed criteria in four broad categories:
- Non-discrimination policies
- Employment benefits
- Supporting an inclusive culture and corporate social responsibility including a public commitment to LGBTQ equality
- Responsible citizenship
“These companies know that protecting their LGBTQ employees and customers from discrimination is not just the right thing to do -- it is also the best business decision. In addition, many of these leaders are also advocating for the LGBTQ community and equality under the law in the public square,” says HRC President Alphonso David. “From supporting LGBTQ civil rights protections in the U.S. through HRC’s Business Coalition for the Equality Act to featuring transgender and non-binary people in an ad in Argentina, to advocating for marriage equality in Taiwan businesses understand their LGBTQ employees and customers deserve to be seen, valued and respected not only at work but in every aspect of daily life.”
More than 260 top businesses, including 191 that earned top scores on the CEI, are also corporate supporters on the Equality Act, bipartisan legislation that would add clear, comprehensive non-discrimination protections for LGBTQ people to U.S. civil rights laws.
This year 89% percent of companies participating in the CEI offer at least one health care policy that is inclusive of their transgender workers, and 85% percent met stringent criteria that requires all blanket exclusions of medically-necessary care for transgender workers be removed from all health policies the company offers -- up from 73% last year.
The full report is available online at www.hrc.org/cei.
Current Issue - April 2024