Navigating the CEI Rating System and Methodology Since the first edition in 2002, the HRC Corporate Equality Index has been both a roadmap and progress report for major U.S. businesses’ adoption of inclusive policies, practices and benefits for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender employees. In addition to the growing number of top-rated employers, the CEI has seen success in the reach of the survey. The number of employers rated from the first CEI to the present has expanded from 319 to 615, encompassing all major industry sectors and geographic regions of the U.S. In just under a decade, the Corporate Equality Index has become the foremost benchmark for businesses to gauge their level of LGBT workplace inclusion against competitors.
HOW HRC obtains information The primary source of information for the CEI rating is the CEI survey, available at www.hrc.org/cei. The survey collects key pieces of information to calculate an employer’s score and other information that gauge trends and best practices among all businesses or particular industries. Businesses are also required to provide certain documentation for some of the criteria. Invitations for the CEI 2011 survey were mailed in April 2010. 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 responsible for human resources or diversity when it was possible to obtain their contact information. If a business had previously participated in the CEI, surveys were first sent to the individuals responsible for previous submissions. The web-based survey included links to sample policies and other guidance on the HRC website. HRC staff provided additional assistance and advice throughout the process and reviewed submitted documentation for appropriate language and consistency with survey answers. Businesses were able to check their preliminary ratings as they progressed through the online survey and were invited to provide HRC staff with any additional information or updates before this report went to print. A total of 1,662 businesses received invitations to take part in the survey. Of that number, 476 submitted surveys and 615 were ultimately rated. Last year, 461 submitted surveys and 590 were rated. HRC may occasionally rate businesses that have not submitted a survey this year if the business had submitted a survey in previous years and the information is determined to be accurate, or if HRC has obtained sufficient information to provide a rating. In both cases, HRC notifies the business of the rating and asks for any updates or clarification.
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Corporate Equality Index 2O11: Rating American Workplaces on LGBT Equality
www.hrc.org/cei