■ Joe Solmonese:  “... employers understand that discrimination against GLBT workers will ultimately hurt their ability to compete in the global marketplace.”

WASHINGTON, September 17, 2007  —  An unprecedented 41 per cent increase in major US businesses scoring a perfect 100 is revealed in the latest Corporate Equality Index published today by Human Rights Campaign.

This year, 195 companies scored the highest-possible marks, compared with 138 last year.

The Index rates employers on a scale from 0 to 100 percent on their treatment of gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender employees, consumers and investors.

The 195 businesses that met all of the criteria employ more than 8.3 million workers. When the Index was first released in 2002 only 13 companies, employing 690,000 workers, received the top rating.

“More businesses than ever before have recognized the value of a diverse and dedicated workforce,” said Human Rights Campaign president Joe Solmonese.

“More importantly, these employers understand that discrimination against GLBT workers will ultimately hurt their ability to compete in the global marketplace.”

Among the newcomers to the ‘100 club’ is Yahoo!

“[We are] proud to be part of HRC’s Corporate Equality Index and to be in the company of a pioneering group that has stepped up to create a more inclusive work environment for today’s diverse employee groups,” said Cammie Dunaway, chief marketing officer and executive sponsor of the LGBT employee group at Yahoo!.

“We’re committed to making Yahoo! a great place to work and remain focused on offering progressive employment policies and benefits while recruiting the best talent from all backgrounds. We value our tens of millions of LGBT consumers around the world and are always looking for ways to further connect them to the information, passions, and communities that matter most to them, on our Yahoo! LGBT Pride site and across our network.”

Speaking from Atlanta, Mike Eskew, chairman and CEO of UPS, another company scoring 100, said: “We understand that policies that support inclusion and diversity are critical for us to be successful and we are honored to be recognized with a perfect score on the HRC’s Corporate Equality Index.”

The movement in corporate America toward equality in the workplace has prompted a coalition of corporations and civil rights groups to form the Business Coalition for Workplace Fairness aimed at levelling the playing field by enacting the Employment Non-Discrimination Act. ENDA — which is scheduled to be considered by the full U.S. House of Representatives later this month — would ban workplace discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity.

“In the next few weeks, Congress will vote on federal legislation that U.S. employers have already overwhelmingly embraced,” said Mr. Solmonese.

“It’s the right thing to do for our economy and for our country.”

Today, at least 282 cities and towns, and 19 states, across the country have added workplace protections that protected against discrimination based on sexual orientation in both public and private sector jobs.  More than 93 local jurisdictions, and 11 states, have laws that include protections based on gender identity.

The Corporate Equality Index, which this year rates 519 businesses, measures the extent to which employers protect their GLBT employees. Ratings are based on factors like non-discrimination policies, diversity training and benefits for domestic partners and transgender employees.

Among the findings of this year’s report:

■ The banking and financial services industry has 32 companies with 100 percent, more than any other industry. While there are 30 law firms with the top rating, up from 12 last year. 

■ Three sectors saw their first company achieve a top rating.

■ In mail and freight delivery, United Parcel Service (UPS) achieved 100 percent. In contrast, FedEx (FDX) received a 55 and does not provide benefits for domestic partners firm-wide, including to married same-sex couples in Massachusetts.

■ In the transportation and travel services industry, Travelport known for its travel sites such as Orbitz.com is the first to receive a perfect score.

■ Harrah’s Entertainment Inc. is the first gaming industry company to achieve 100 percent. 

■ For the first time, a majority of rated firms — 58 percent — provide employment protections on the basis of gender identity.

■ Among the 57 companies that have newly achieved a perfect score of 100 percent are: Allstate Insurance Co,Electronic Arts Inc., Esurance Inc., J.C. Penney Co. Inc., KeyCorp, Macy’s Inc., Marriott International Inc., Mastercard Inc., Waste Management Inc. and Yahoo! Inc..

The report can be downloaded from HRC’s website HERE .

LINK

website

 

Posted: 17 September 2007 at 18:30 (UK time)