the four components of the corporate equality index

Vice President and Chief DE&I Officer To view employer score details, please visit www.hrc.org/cei/search. major businesses have adopted gender transition guidelines to establish best practices in transgender inclusion for managers and teams. Employers recognize that beyond the letter of a policy, additional programming and educational efforts are necessary. Scores on this criterion are based on information that has come to HRCs attention related to topics including but not limited to: undue influence by a significant shareholder calculated to undermine a businesss employment policies or practices related to its LGBTQ employees; directing corporate charitable contributions to organizations whose primary mission includes advocacy against LGBTQ equality; opposing shareholder resolutions reasonably aimed at encouraging the adoption of inclusive workplace policies; revoking inclusive LGBTQ policies or practices; or engaging in proven practices that are contrary to the businesss written LGBTQ employment policies. Thank you to Robert Villaflor, Josette Matoto and Carly Fox for editorial and design guidance. Linda Ochoa (she/her) is the Assistant for the Workplace Equality Program at the Human Rights Campaign Foundation. #3 - Negative Effects. This means that employers at over 1,200 companies agreed to have their policies and benefits analyzed by the Human Rights Campaign Foundation, and that over 800 of those organizations have successfully incorporated equitable practices that ensure their employees can thrive and live life authentically. (he/him/el) Determines the value of diversity management for the future. Increasingly, ads with authentic images of LGBTQ+ people are featured in both LGBTQ+ media outlets and general press alike. It is important to note that while Bostock brings meaningful protections to many LGBTQ+ people, Title VII applies only to employers with 15 or more employees, leaving many LGBTQ+ workers without these critical protections. The Human Rights Campaign Foundation would also like to acknowledge that 2021 was the deadliest year in history for transgender and non-binary people. Historically, the CEI had a mechanism to account for foundational corporate giving to any organization whose explicit mission included efforts to undermine LGBTQ+ equality. 3. (he/him) This year marks the Human Rights Campaign Foundations (HRCF) 20th edition of the Corporate Equality Index (CEI), the premier survey benchmarking tool on how corporations across the United States and beyond are adopting equitable workplace policies, practices and benefits for LGBTQ+ employees. Here are a few noteworthy pro-LGBTQ+ achievements: One of the most momentous societal and legal achievements for the LGBTQ+ community in the past 20 years was the 2015 Obergefell v. Hodges Supreme Court decision. Businesses' Commitment to LGBTQ+ Employees, 15 of the Top 20 Fortune-Ranked Companies Received 100% Ratings. of CEI participants documented that they provide inclusive benefits for same- and different-sex spouses and partners. , We seek the inclusion of the LGBTQ+ community in these external engagement efforts. The remaining 28 states offer either no LGBTQ+ non-discrimination protections or in some way exclude a key group from their laws, leaving these groups without legislative protection. This core issue is rarely addressed in corporate governance research. In addition to the CEI, the Workplace Equality Program researches, develops, and advocates for greater equity and inclusion for LGBTQ+ workers at the federal, state, and local levels, and provides support to employers seeking to enhance LGBTQ+ inclusion through education, training, policy, and consulting assistance. Employee inclusion. Businesses unwilling to do so would have been penalized 25 points from their overall rating through Criterion 4. Equally important, we are committed to providing the resources and consultation that enable each business to attain a 100 percent rating. The following report is reflective of verified data submitted to the HRC Foundation as well as independent research on non-responding businesses. The policies must create a more gender-inclusive atmosphere for all employees. The Equality Act passed in the U.S. House of Representatives on February 25, 2021, with a bipartisan vote of 224-206. HRCs dedication, focus, and drive to make workplaces and our broader society a more diverse, inclusive, and safe environment for the LGBTQ+ community is unwavering. 379 Fortune 500 employers actively participated in the 2022 CEI. Best Places to Work for LGBTQ+ Equality 2022. Over 50 persons who identified as transgender or non-binary are known to have experienced violent deaths in 2021, with more than 50% of those victims being Black or Latinx. Despite the disruption of the COVID-19 epidemic and the cancellation of in-person events worldwide, CEI-rated businesses followed through on their commitments to LGBTQ+ community engagement throughout the year largely by leveraging online and virtual engagement platforms. Before joining HRCF, Raina began their professional career conducting research on gender equity in education and the workplace. Additionally, the CEI includes a set of standards around foundational giving to fully align a businesss actions with its core values and to raise the bar for corporate social responsibility. Workplace culture and analytics leader SAS received the top score of 100 on the Human Rights Campaign Corporate Foundation's 2022 Corporate Equality Index (CEI). Data from the CEI tells the story of nearly two decades of year over year growth in the adoption of these critical policies and practices indicative of employers' commitment to equality. Council Co-Chair The process towards LGBTQ+ inclusion does not end with nondiscrimination policies. To secure full credit for benefits criteria, each benefit must be available to all benefits-eligible U.S. employees. The HRC Foundation is eager to commemorate this anniversary by sincerely thanking the many people that have made the CEI a success year after year for two impactful decades. That's our purpose. Wherever credit can be verified, all ranked businesses will receive it, irrespective of their participation in the CEI survey. of CEI-rated employers (620 of 1,271 respondents) include LGBTQ+ diversity metrics as part of senior management/executive leadership performance standards. On the surface, LGBT+ employees in many parts of the world have progressed in the workplace. By using the CEI criteria as a guide, businesses can help ensure that their existing policy and benefits infrastructure is inclusive of LGBTQ+ workers and their families. The policies help to ensure: Furthermore, these policies represent minimal upfront costs. Experian North America Earns Top Marks in Human Rights Campaign's 2021 Corporate Equality Index. Rating Criteria for the Corporate Equality Index. This year, of the 1,160 businesses with at least one inclusive plan, 1,088 also eliminated all exclusions across plans. You can unsubscribe at any time. "When the Human Rights Campaign Foundation created the CEI 20 . Businesses owned by a larger U.S.-incorporated entity must be rated and represented on the CEI and its related publications as part of the larger entity. Data collection forms that include employee race, ethnicity, gender, military and disability status typically recorded as part of employee records include optional questions on sexual orientation and gender identity. If a business had previously participated in the CEI, surveys were first sent to the individual(s) responsible for prior submissions. Supporting an Inclusive Culture (25 points possible). In 2009, the HRC Foundation announced a major change to what would be the 2012 CEI criteria. Vice President and Corporate Secretary This guide must include contact information for relevant and related organizations and/or persons of interest, a full breakdown of the appeals process, a detailed FAQ, and must, ultimately, be comprehensive in its nature. Qualtrics Pride is excited to announce that Qualtrics has received a 95 out of 100 on the Human Rights Campaign's (HRC) Corporate Equality Index (CEI) for 2022!. While HRC never changed its partner benefits mandate, a small number of companies moved to spousal benefits-only policies in the middle of the 2016 CEI season. Other benefits available for other medical conditions are also available to transgender individuals. Four LGBTQ+ Internal Training and Accountability Efforts (5)Businesses must demonstrate a firm-wide, sustained and accountable commitment to diversity and cultural competency, including at least four of the following elements: c. Transgender Inclusion Best Practices (5), d. Employee Group OR Diversity Council (10), 4. Diversity is an essential component of our corporate values and is tightly integrated into our business strategy. In our paper we discuss what can usefully be said about . The CEI will now require that at least one company training, provided to all employees, that addresses LGBTQ+ intersectionality within the workplace. Partner Until LGBTQ+ Americans have full equality through the federal Equality Act, domestic partner benefits will remain an essential CEI standard that helps to fill the void left by federal and state law and ensure LGBTQ+ workers and their families receive equitable benefits whether married or partnered. By clicking "GO" below, you will be directed to a website operated by the Human Rights Campaign Foundation, an independent 501(c)(3) entity. The number of employers officially rated has expanded from 319 original participants to a current participant count of 1,271, encompassing all major industry sectors. In fact, over the last decade, most businesses that have offered same-sex partner benefits also extended these to different-sex partners. Debunking the Myths: Transgender Health and Well-Being, U.S. Federal Government Employment Policies, Sexual Orientation in U.S. Nondiscrimination Policy, Gender Identity in U.S. Nondiscrimination Policy. First, the minimal services and treatment for transgender-inclusive healthcare will now be more robust. The 20th-anniversary edition of the CEI now includes over 1,200 participants and more than 800 top scorers. By clicking "GO" below, you will be directed to a website operated by the Human Rights Campaign Foundation, an independent 501(c)(3) entity. Finally, companies must provide a guide for family formation, transgender-inclusive healthcare, and HIV services and treatment that is provided annually and upon hire to all employees. The HRC Foundation commends the employers that have committed to the public and transparent process of the CEI survey and we invite these 112 companies to do the same. Determines the value of diversity management for the future. The company donated $1,095,500 . Senior management/executive performance measures include LGBTQ+ diversity metrics. The Human Rights Campaign uses cookies to improve your site experience. Equitable policies and benefits are critical to LGBTQ+ inclusion in the workforce but alone are not sufficient to support a truly inclusive culture within a workplace. The requirement is that a top-rated business must implement internal requirements prohibiting company or law firm philanthropic giving to non-religious organizations that have a written policy of discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity or have a policy explicitly permitting its own chapters, affiliates, etc. Sample Solution. With many multinational companies employing persons outside of the United States, HRC encouraged CEI participants to consider how their adopted inclusive policies and practices could and would impact their workforces in countries with less tolerant legal and cultural stances towards LGBTQ+ communities. Businesses have extensive programs to engage with key markets and the communities in which they operate. The Human Rights Campaign reports on news, events and resources of the. Additionally, two bathroom bills were passed in Tennessee and Arkansas passed the first-ever ban preventing transgender youth from accessing gender-affirming care. The web-based survey included links to sample policies and other guidance, found on the HRC Foundation website. Each year, the Human Rights Campaign conducts a survey of hundreds of major global employers, with the number of participants growing each year. Human Rights Campaign Foundation. To learn more, please read our Privacy Policy. 67 percent of the Fortune 500 and 86 percent of all CEI-rated businesses (1,088 of 1,271) offer transgender-inclusive health insurance coverage, up from 0 per cent in 2002 22 times as many businesses as in 2009. A full 91 percent of the Fortune 500 including both companies that participate in the CEI survey and those that do not have gender identity protections enumerated in their nondiscrimination policies (up from 3 percent in 2002). Inclusive Benefits (50 points possible). While discrimination cant be prevented by legal protections alone, without federal or state legislation prohibiting it, millions of LGBTQ+ Americans and their families live in fear that the prejudice and hatred of others can, legally, destroy their livelihood. LGBTQ+ Employee Resource Group or Diversity Council. (he/him) While Bostock explains that discrimination on the basis of sex necessarily includes discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity, those words are not explicitly enumerated. of CEI-rated businesses (1,187 of 1,271 respondents) met the standard of demonstrating a least three efforts of public commitment to the LGBTQ community. If a business had not previously participated in the CEI, surveys were sent to the chief executive officer or managing partner of the firm, as well as the highest-level executive(s) responsible for human resources, diversity, communications, or community engagement, if obtaining the contact information for these executives was possible. Criteria 3: Supporting an Inclusive Culture & Corporate Social Responsibility. The components for Corporate Equality Index applied by both state, that is Florida and Georgia entails the approaches such as equitable benefits for LGBTQ employees and their families, non-discrimination policies across the organizations, internal accountability, internal education, and public commitment to LGBTQ equality. In the absence of sexual orientation and gender identity protections through federal and consistent state law, LGBTQ+ individuals remain vulnerable to discrimination in housing, access to public places, federal funding, credit, education, jury service, and, in some cases, employment (for employees not covered under Title VII). of CEI-rated employers (510 of 1,271 respondents) allow employees the option to self-identify as LGBTQ+ in anonymous employee engagement surveys or as part of data collection on confidential employee forms and 37% (470 of 1,271 respondents) allow self-identification in the HRIS system. The CEI is the nation's foremost benchmarking survey and report measuring corporate policies and practices related to LGBTQ workplace equality. By using this site, you agree to our use of cookies. Founder & President of CEI-rated businesses (1,187 of 1,271 respondents) met the standard of demonstrating a least three efforts of public commitment to the LGBTQ+ community. Corporate Equality Index 2022. When the Corporate Equality Index first launched in 2002, there were a total of 319 participants. Widespread employer adoption of such packages helps to ensure that offering LGBTQ+ inclusive benefits to employees and their families is a low-cost, high-return proposition for businesses. HRC, its partners, and supporters will continue to work toward the goal of all 50 states having LGBTQ+ non-discrimination protections written into law. Furthermore, there are federal initiatives such as the Center for Veterans Enterprise that is designed to assist U.S. veterans in launching and thriving in private business. Determines the value of diversity management for the future. We need to respectfully challenge and move beyond lip service in two key areas. An outstanding 1,271 companies actively participated in the CEI 2022 Survey. 100% of every HRC merchandise purchase fuels the fight for equality. of CEI-rated employers (1,179 of 1,271 respondents) have an employee resource group or diversity council that includes LGBTQ and allied employees and programming. To learn more, please read our Privacy Policy. The HRC Foundation will continue to award partial credit to employers that have satisfied a portion of certain criterion. This realignment will enable the report to be accessible before Black Friday and ensure that the CEI can be used as a tool for consumers and the LGBTQ+ community in making purchasing decisions during the years busiest holiday season. To earn a top rating of 100 percent, a business needed not just to mitigate one or more exclusions but also to address the root problem of transgender exclusion in coverage and fully affirm healthcare coverage for medically necessary transition-related care and other routine and chronic conditions. Businesses are rated on a scale from 0 to 100, with a certain number of points awarded for meeting each criterion. You'll receive email updates from HRC. Egon Zehnder is thrilled to have received a score of 100 on the Human Rights Campaign Foundation's 2021 Corporate Equality Index, the United States' foremost benchmarking survey and report measuring corporate policies and practices related to LGBTQ workplace equality. Private sector support for the federal Equality Act surged within the last two years and, at present, 508 major employers are signatories on HRCs The Business Coalition for the Equality Act. Ultimately, the growth of the CEI reflects the truth that so many leading businesses have come to embrace: leveling the playing field for LGBTQ+ workers is not simply a societal good; it is also good for business. After wide-scale education and outreach efforts, the 2019 CEI resumed enforcement of the standard for both same- and different-sex domestic partner benefits. Rating Criteria for the 2023 CEI. In other words, businesses have increasingly recognized the value of decoupling benefits from the legal definition of marriage to meet the needs of their diverse workforces. Employers presence at these and other events sends a clear message to potential employees that LGBTQ+ diversity is part of company culture, and that LGBTQ+ candidates are valued as the best and the brightest across industries, geographies and trades. of CEI-rated businesses (761 of 1,271 respondents) provided philanthropic support via cash or in-kind donation to at least one LGBTQ+ specific organization. Businesses see advantages in going public with their commitment to equality, including: Professional events such as the annual Out & Equal Workplace Summit, the Lavender Law Conference, and the Reaching Out MBA (ROMBA) Conference and Career Expo are filled with highly-rated CEI employers looking to attract diverse employees. In addition, companies must have one overarching policy on gender inclusivity which includes dress codes, restrooms and facilities, or pronoun and chosen name usage in the workplace (email signatures/meeting/onboarding). REDWOOD CITY, Calif. -- Impossible Foods Inc. received a perfect score of 100% on the Human Rights Campaign Foundation's 2021 Corporate Equality Index, the nation's foremost benchmarking report on corporate equity and policy. Equity: Generally speaking, equity is the value of an asset less the amount of all liabilities on that asset. Objective Setting. Discusses strategies for implementing the four components of the Corporate Equality Index into a company for each state. You'll receive email updates from HRC. (2006), the four components of corporate social responsibility . The information required to generate CEI ratings for businesses is difficult to ascertain from public records alone. CEI serves the nation's foremost . Where major businesses regularly provide education, training, and accountability measures on diversity and inclusion in the workplace, the HRC Foundation seeks to ensure that these systems include the LGBTQ+ workforce. In addition to seeing a growth in the number of highly-rated employers, the CEI has also seen great success in the reach of the survey. Since its launch in 2002, employees, consumers and investors have used the CEI as a comprehensive tool to determine what a companys policies are before they accept a job, buy a product or invest their money. Understanding Brand Equity. For companies with operations outside of the U.S., the policy must be extended across the global workforce. In this role, they engage directly with employers nationwide to identify and improve LGBTQ+ inclusive policies, practices and benefits. The pandemic has caused temporary disturbances in the production and commercialization of goods and services that have translated into tensions in the sales figures, causing serious liquidity problems, drops in profitability, and increased risk. However, companies opposed (and still oppose) these discriminatory bills. The HRC Foundation is committed to keeping the criteria for the CEI rigorous, fair and transparent by identifying emerging best practices that improve the experiences of LGBTQ employees of participating businesses. Forty New Jersey businesses are among America's leading companies and law firms meeting strengthened criteria to meet the evolving needs of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer (LGBTQ) community around the world, according to the 2018 Corporate Equality Index (CEI) released by the Human Rights . AT&T, Corey Smith Vice President & Relationship Manager, Global Corporate Equality Index, 2022. The decision was major news for the LGBTQ+ community and had implications that can eventually reach civil rights laws forbidding discrimination in education, health care, housing, and many more areas of law. Raina also manages all aspects of the CEI database and survey implementation. (she/her) Over the last seven years, countless companies in all 50 states have spoken out against attempts to undermine LGBTQ+ civil rights. We recognize that this acronym is U.S.-centric and that communities around the world recognize different identities and acronyms. Companies were rated on a scale of 0 percent to 100 per- As Deputy Director, RaShawn leads the teams work to create tools for employers to deepen their LGBTQ+ inclusion efforts including training & education programs, policy guidance and employee engagement resources. Supplier diversity programs ensure that the procurement process includes specific opportunities for minority-owned businesses, including women-owned, veteran-owned and, more recently, LGBTQ+ owned businesses. Workforce Protections (30 points possible) Policy includes sexual orientation for all operations (15) Policy includes gender identity or expression for all operations (15) 2. The promise of surprises, fun, ease and inspiration at every turn, no matter when, where or how you shop. In the 2022 CEI, 842 employers achieved a top score of 100 and earning the coveted title of Best Place to Work for LGBTQ+ Equality.. Who are the experts? HRC Foundation staff provided additional assistance and direct consultation throughout the process and reviewed submitted documentation (required within each section) for appropriate language and consistency with survey answers.