Edelman LGBTQ moves earn top marks for HRC Corporate Equality Index
Communications Marketing and PR firm Edelman has earned top marks in the Human Rights Campaign Foundation’s 2017 Corporate Equality Index (CEI). The firm earned 100% on the Fourteenth Annual Scorecard on LGBT Workplace Equality.
The CEI is a national benchmarking survey and report on corporate policies and practices related to LGBT workplace equality, administered by the Human Rights Campaign Foundation. Edelman joins the ranks of 517 major US businesses which also earned top marks this year.
The 2017 CEI rated 1,043 businesses in the report, which evaluates LGBT-related policies and practices including non-discrimination workplace protections, domestic partner benefits, transgender-inclusive health care benefits, competency programs, and public engagement with the LGBT community. Edelman’s efforts in satisfying all of the CEI’s criteria results in a 100 percent ranking and the designation as a Best Place to Work for LGBT Equality.
“Edelman is proud to join many of our clients in being recognized as one of the best places to work for LGBTQ equality,” said Ben Boyd, president of practices and sectors, CEO of Latin America and Canada and executive sponsor of Edelman Equal, the Edelman LGBTQ employee network. “This distinction is a testament to our firm’s longstanding commitment to diversity and inclusion, and we’re excited to have received top marks in our first year being included in the HRC Corporate Equality Index. I’m grateful for our organization’s support of Edelman Equal, our LGBTQ employee network, and the work it does to support the LGBTQ community inside and outside of the firm.”
The 2017 Corporate Equality Index report can be seen and downloaded on the HRC website.
Edelman Equal is one of five Edelman employee networks serving as vehicles in building an internal community in which employees can share, learn and grow—professionally and personally. These five networks represent various groups within the company’s workforce — LGTBQ, Women, Black, Latino and Veteran employees — and are open to all.
The networks also helped the company win a Diversity Distinction in PR Awards from the PR Council and PRWeek for Best New Diversity Initiative.