The DiversityInc Top 10 Companies for LGBT Employees List - Diversit...
1 of 5
HOME
DiversityInc Top 50 Companies for Diversity ®
DiversityInc Magazine
http://diversityinc.com/content/1757/article/5795/
DiversityInc Products
Diversity Departments
Be notified when we post new 2009 DiversityInc Top 50 articles on our website!
FEATURES Ask the White Guy
by specific keyword, title, etc. We will not sell or share your email address, ever! Please read our Privacy Policy.
Stay Connected With DiversityInc
DiversityInc Careers Diversity Management Article Archives
SITE SPONSORS
The DiversityInc Top 10 Companies for LGBT Employees List
Get our free newsletter three times a week!
By Barbara Frankel - Apr 27, 2009 Also read: factoids, DiversityInc Top 50, DiversityInc Specialty Lists, LGBT
What makes a company the right place for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender employees--and their friends and families--to work? To determine this list, we looked at several factors, including inclusive benefits for same-sex partners of employees, strong diversity training programs, recruitment efforts aimed at LGBT people and the vitality of the company's LGBT employee-resource group. Since the workplace demographic data on LGBT employees is inconclusive (most companies don't ask about orientation, and even those that do believe a certain segment is uncomfortable coming out), we also include ratings from the Human Rights Campaign (HRC)'s Corporate Equality Index (CEI), which measures workplace rights for LGBT individuals. No company can be on our Top 10 Companies for LGBT Employees list that doesn't receive a 100 percent CEI rating. Interestingly, 74 percent of The 2009 DiversityInc Top 50 Companies for Diversity® received a 100 percent CEI rating this year, compared with 52 percent in 2006 and 28 percent in 2004. We also examined the company's web site to assess its visible commitment to the LGBT community, as well as its relationships with external organizations such as the HRC and the Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network (GLSEN). And we gave companies extra points for marketing to the LGBT community and for use with LGBT suppliers certified by the National Gay and Lesbian Chamber of Commerce. Here are the top 10 and a reason why each of them made the list:
Most Popular Articles Why the 'B' in 'Black' Is Capitalized at DiversityInc KPMG, AT&T Stand Up to Anti-LGBT Bill in Tennessee PwC Chairman Bob Moritz Makes Diversity Personal The DiversityInc Top 10 Regional Companies André Wyss on Building Gender Equality at Novartis
No. 1: Ernst & Young, No. 3 in the DiversityInc Top 50. Also No. 2 in The DiversityInc Top 10 Companies for People With Disabilities The Big Four firm has a strong employee network for LGBT employees called Beyond Professional Resource Network. E&Y spends 0.5 percent of its total procurement budget with certified LGBT contractors. The company's nondiscrimination policy includes gender identity.
More Popular Articles »
Career Search Keywords
No. 2: Wells Fargo & Co., No. 31 in the DiversityInc Top 50. Also No. 8 in The DiversityInc Top 10 Companies for Recruitment & Retention; No. 10 in The DiversityInc Top 10 Companies for Latinos; and No. 2 in The DiversityInc Top 10 Companies for Asian Americans
Well known for its efforts to reach out to LGBT customers, the San Francisco-based bank offers its LGBT employees and their partners benefits equal to those of heterosexual partners. Its diversity training includes sexual orientation and gender-identity components.
No. 3: PricewaterhouseCoopers, No. 5 in the DiversityInc Top 50. Also No. 1 in The DiversityInc Top 10 Global Diversity Companies
The firm's commitment to its LGBT employees is clear in its collateral material and on its web site, where its inclusive policies are emphasized. It has a strong LGBT resource group, called GLBT Mentoring Circles. Posted Monday May 4, 2009 by Guest;
ZIP Code
City State
How far?
Quick Search Advanced Search
Most Discussed Articles Why the 'B' in 'Black' Is Capitalized at DiversityInc When Should Your Company Take a Stand Against LGBT Bias? André Wyss on Building Gender Equality at Novartis PwC Chairman Bob Moritz Makes Diversity Personal KPMG, AT&T Stand Up to Anti-LGBT Bill in
5/26/2011 2:42 PM
The DiversityInc Top 10 Companies for LGBT Employees List - Diversit...
2 of 5
http://diversityinc.com/content/1757/article/5795/
Tennessee No. 4: IBM Corp., No. 10 in the DiversityInc Top 50. Also No. 1 in The DiversityInc Top 10 Companies for People With Disabilities; No. 2 in The DiversityInc Top 10 Companies for Supplier Diversity; No. 4 in The DiversityInc Top 10 Companies for Asian Americans; and No. 2 in The DiversityInc Top 10 Global Diversity Companies
IBM has strong ties to the LGBT community, as demonstrated by its philanthropy to such groups as International Gay and Lesbian Human Rights Commission, International Lesbian and Gay Association, Out for Work, the Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network (GLSEN), Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD), Gay Men's Health Crisis and others.
More Top Articles »
Debunking Diversity Myths 'New' Rand Study on Diversity Based on Obsolete Information The Wall Street Journal Claims 'The Death of Diversity' BusinessWeek Blows It: Executive Recruitment Diversity Study Isn't Real
No. 5: Aetna, No. 48 in the DiversityInc Top 50. Also No. 7 in The DiversityInc Top 10 Companies for People With Disabilities Career Advice Aetna's president, Mark Bertolini, is a strong advocate for the company's LGBT employees and received an Out & Equal Champions Award in 2007. The company has very strong benefits for its LGBT employees and their partners, as well as an excellent LGBT employee-resource group.
No. 6: KPMG, No. 21 in the DiversityInc Top 50. Also No. 10 in The DiversityInc Top 10 Companies for People With Disabilities
The Big Four accounting firm, which is being honored this year at GLSEN's Respect Awards for its commitment to LGBT equality, has a strong employee-resource group for LGBT workers and has excellent benefits for LGBT employees and their partners, including coverage for transgender treatment.
The DiversityInc Top 10 Companies for Recruitment & Retention How to Get More Blacks and Latinos in Accounting Advice for Finding the Best and Brightest Talent (VIDEO) How to Be a Magnet to Top Talent (VIDEO) Give Candid Feedback to All Employees (VIDEO) More Career Advice »
No. 7: Sodexo, No. 6 in the DiversityInc Top 50. Also No. 3 in The DiversityInc Top 10 Companies for Recruitment & Retention; No. 3 in The DiversityInc Top 10 Companies for African Americans; No. 2 in The DiversityInc Top 10 Companies for Latinos; No. 1 in The DiversityInc Top 10 Companies for Executive Women; and No. 9 in The DiversityInc Top 10 Companies for People With Disabilities
Press Releases Minority teens boosted career readiness in corporate mentoring program While optimistic, African Americans face barriers to realizing financial goals
The company has excellent benefits for LGBT employees and their partners, including bereavement leave, relocation assistance and retiree healthcare benefits. It also has mandatory diversity training for managers, including sexual orientation and gender identity.
No. 8: AT&T, No. 2 in the DiversityInc Top 50. Also No. 7 in The DiversityInc Top 10 Companies for Recruitment & Retention and No. 1 in The DiversityInc Top 10 Companies for African Americans
The company has a strong employee-resource group for LGBT employees, called LEAGUE -- Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgendered United Employees at AT&T. The company has strong benefits for LGBT employees, including adoption assistance.
No. 9: Cisco Systems, one of DiversityInc's 25 Noteworthy Companies. Also No. 3 in The DiversityInc Top 10 Companies for People With Disabilities and No. 4 in The DiversityInc Top 10 Global Diversity Companies
Cisco is a supporter of the Employment Non-Discrimination Act of 2007, has excellent benefits for LGBT employees and their partners, and has been a strong supporter of LGBT nonprofits.
No. 10: Johnson & Johnson, No. 1 in the DiversityInc Top 50. Also No. 4 in The DiversityInc Top 10 Companies for Recruitment & Retention; No. 5 in The DiversityInc Top 10 Companies for Asian Americans; and No. 2 in The DiversityInc Top 10 Companies for Executive Women
The company has strong diversity training that includes orientation and gender identity as well as first-rate benefits for LGBT employees and their partners. Hi Barbara,I greatly appreciate your speedy reply. I am well aware that all the companies listed reached 100 percent on the CEI. However, as many in the transgender community have pointed out, this simply means that to identify which ones
14 WOMEN’S BUSINESSES NAMED “2011 WOMEN’S BUSINESS ENTERPRISE STARS” BY WOMEN’S BUSINESS ENTERPRISE NATIONAL COUNCIL On World AIDS Day, HIV Testing Reaches Record High EEOC EXPLORES PLIGHT OF OLDER WORKERS IN CURRENT ECONOMIC CLIMATE More Press Releases »
Top Stories Video
What Lessons on Corporate Culture Can You Learn From the Navy Video Scandal?
The Global 21st-Century Workforce and the U.S.
Speak Effectively to Diversity in Your Own Voice
Advice for Finding the Best and Brightest Talent
5/26/2011 2:42 PM
The DiversityInc Top 10 Companies for LGBT Employees List - Diversit...
3 of 5
Readers' Comments
http://diversityinc.com/content/1757/article/5795/
More Top Stories Video Âť
Posted Monday May 4, 2009 by Guest; Hello Andre, We appreciate your interest in The DiversityInc Top 10 Companies for LGBT Employees list. All of the companies on our list received a 100 percent rating in The Human Rights Campaign's Corporate Equality Index, which includes having transgender-inclusive insurance coverage for at least one type of benefit. However, 46 out of 260 companies surveyed by the HRC also offer full transgender-inclusive insurance coverage, including surgical procedures. As you correctly point out, some of the companies on our list do not do this year. We did not break it down to that level of detail but certainly will consider doing that next year. Barbara Frankel Senior Vice President, Executive Editor DiversityInc BFrankel@DiversityInc.com www.DiversityIncBestPractices.com . Posted Monday May 4, 2009 by Guest; It is wonderful to see so many corporations which seek to provide a welcoming work environment for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender employees. However, it is truly a shame that of the top 10 companies listed as LGBT friendly, only seven have gone on record as providing fully transgender-inclusive health benefits. Three of the employers are providing health benefits which actually discriminate against transgender employees (and similarly fail to provide equitable health coverage for transgender dependents of employees). These are PricewaterHouseCoopers, Aetna, and Sodexo. I respectfully ask Diversity Inc to rethink the basis on which it gives out its accolades. I encourage you to update this article with one which lauds only corporations which truly welcome all of the L, G, B, and T. Alternatively, I would have to suggest that you leave the "T" out of your LGBT designation. For those readers who may doubt that these are medically necessary services, please provide links to statements from The American Medical Association, the American Psychological Association, the National Association of Social Workers, the World Professional Association of Transgender Health, and the American Federation of Teachers. These are among the growing number of organizations which have called for private and public health coverage of medically necessary transgender transition-related services, and for an end to discriminatory exclusions. For those who think that being transsexual or undergoing medically-assisted transgender transition is a choice, please take some time out of your schedule to talk to a person who has undergone a transgender transition. Ask them what life was like before, and after. Consider too that millions of dollars a year are spent for health care resulting from what actually are often "choices." To name a few: pregnancy and childbirth, interventions for cancers related to nicotine intake, repair of broken limbs or other injuries from recreational sports such as skiing, mountainbiking, roller-blading,or basketball. The Human Rights Campaign CEI website lists 49 companies which offer transgender inclusive health coverage. Numerous additional employers are known to provide such coverage, including some of our major public research institutions (the University of California and University of Michigan). Their experience has shown that inclusive coverage is cost-effective, not expensive. Most large employers are now able to include such coverage at virtually no additional cost to premiums. HRC has an extra plus designation for companies with inclusive coverage, making it clear that truly inclusive workplaces do ensure that there are no exclusions in their health plans. The HRC does not yet penalize companies for not providing fully inclusive coverage, but their Workplace Project is actively working with companies to eliminate exclusions and those that do not will be unable to earn the 100% rating in the 2011 survey. Sadly, the recent top 10 for employees with disabilities is even worse. In that list only four companies provide transgender-inclusive benefits. This is particularly ironic since in many states the excluded diagnosis "Gender Identity Disorder" would be covered under the state disability statute! Imagine: What we would think of an employer's insurance policy which explicitly excluded care for all services "related to" sickle cell anemia? What would we have to say about a comprehensive plan which covered all sorts of cancer treatments but excluded procedures and services related to ovarian, vaginal, or uterine cancers? I've listed below the awarded companies which do offer transgender-inclusive coverage, and those which instead have discriminatory exclusions in their insurance plans, according to the HRC CEI. (Those without coverage for transgender transition-related surgical services are in parentheses.)** Again, I urge Diversity Inc to take steps to ensure that your coverage includes transgender people and our concerns. Isn't it about time? In Unity, Andre Wilson Top 10 Disabilities: IBM, Ernst & Young, Cisco
5/26/2011 2:42 PM
The DiversityInc Top 10 Companies for LGBT Employees List - Diversit...
4 of 5
http://diversityinc.com/content/1757/article/5795/
Systems, (Proctor & Gamble), (Kaiser Permanente), (SC Johnson), (Aetna), (Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide), (Sodexo), KPMG Top 10 LGBT: Ernst & Young, Wells Fargo & Co, (PricewaterhouseCoopers), IBM Corp, (Aetna), KPMG, (Sodexo), AT&T, Cisco Systems, Johnson & Johnson. ** Hopefully, some of these companies are actively seeking to change this situation and will begin to offer inclusive coverage in the 2010 plan year. . Posted Tuesday Jun 30, 2009 by Guest; Diversity is our strength and I know first hand that it makes us better employees when we are considered equal. We will work harder. We will be grateful. We will speak volumes about our company to all our friends and family.Thank you for this information. . Posted Tuesday Jun 30, 2009 by Guest; Diversity is our strength and I know first hand that it makes us better employees when we are considered equal. We will work harder. We will be grateful. We will speak volumes about our company to all our friends and family.Thank you for this information. . Posted Wednesday Mar 24, 2010 by Guest; I work for Macy's. Macy's is an awsome company concerning GLBT rights. I am a transgendered male to female pre op woman. I am transitioning here with the full support of Macy's. I'm wondering why Macy's is not on the top 10 list of places to work for the GLBT community. .
Your opinions and thoughts... Comment on this article Name:
E-mail Address:
Comments:*
Share This Content | E-mail Article | Print Article | Post Comments
Be notified when we post new 2009 DiversityInc Top 50 articles on our website!
We will not sell or share your email address, ever! Please read our Privacy Policy.
Subscribe to the print edition of our magazine: Click Here To Subscribe Read more 2009 DiversityInc Top 50 articles Âť
Business From a People Perspective Veteran-Owned Business
Subscribe Now - Log In - DiversityInc Top 50 - DiversityInc Foundation - Careers - Magazine - Media Kit - Writer's Guidelines - About Us - Contact Us - RSS Feed - Privacy Policy - Partner Links - Site Map
Š 2010 DiversityInc. All Rights Reserved.
5/26/2011 2:42 PM
The DiversityInc Top 10 Companies for LGBT Employees List - Diversit...
5 of 5
http://diversityinc.com/content/1757/article/5795/
5/26/2011 2:42 PM