Which Massachusetts Companies Are Most (and Least) Inclusive for LGBT Employees?
Photo by billandkent on Flickr/Creative Commons
The Human Rights Campaign Foundation released its 2016 Corporate Equality Index this week, grading 42 Massachusetts companies and law firms on lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender inclusion in the workplace. More than half earned a top score of 100.
“Corporate America has long been a leader on LGBT equality, from advocating for marriage equality to expanding essential benefits to transgender employees,” HRC president Chad Griffin said in a release. “But this year, many leading U.S. companies have broken new ground by expanding explicit non-discrimination protections to their LGBT workers around the globe. They’ve shown the world that LGBT equality isn’t an issue that stops at our own borders, but extends internationally.”
On average, Massachusetts companies and law firms scored an 88 out of 100, based on criteria in five categories: non-discrimination policies, employment benefits, public commitment to LGBT equality, responsible citizenship, and organizational competency and accountability around LGBT diversity and inclusion. Twenty-seven received a perfect score:
HRC’s “Best Places to Work for LGBT Equality”
Bain & Co. Inc./Bridgespan Group
Biogen
Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts
Boston Consulting Group
Boston Scientific Corp.
Brown Rudnick LLP
Choate, Hall & Stewart LLP
DigitasLBi
Eastern Bank Corp.
EMC Corp.
Federal Reserve Bank of Boston
Foley Hoag LLP
Goodwin Procter LLP
Goulston & Storrs
Harvard Pilgrim Health Care, Inc.
John Hancock Financial Services, Inc.
Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance Co.
Mintz, Levin, Cohn, Ferris, Glovsky & Popeo PC
Nixon Peabody LLP
Raytheon Co.
Rockland Trust Co.
Ropes & Gray LLP
Staples Inc.
State Street Corp.
Sun Life Financial Inc.
Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc.
The TJX Companies Inc.
The four lowest-scoring Massachusetts companies were BJ’s Wholesale Club, Northeast Utilities, Polaroid Corp., and Keane Inc., each notching a 25 out of 100.
“While support for LGBT workers is growing in the U.S. and around the world, too many companies still fail to guarantee basic, vital workplace protections that allow employees to bring their full selves to work,” Griffin said. “That continues to create barriers for LGBT people, especially for transgender people, who face high rates of unemployment and discrimination in hiring. These companies should look to the example set by global corporate leaders as a path forward to achieving LGBT equality for all workers, no matter where they live.”
HRC says 407 companies earned a 100 in its nationwide survey, up from 366 last year.
