rating system and methodology
l Opposing shareholder resolutions to advance LGBT equality. HRC supports the efforts of shareholders in pursuing avenues to advance LGBTinclusive workplace policies. While these efforts have met with considerable success, some companies continue to oppose the simplest efforts to expand equal opportunity to all their employees.
Examples of when a business has lost points on this criterion l Exxon Mobil Corp., Wal-Mart Stores Inc. and Verizon Communications Inc. have all lost points on this criterion for their steadfast opposition to adding “sexual orientation” and “gender identity” to their equal employment opportunity policies. Specifically, shareholders have brought resolutions forward to the boards of these companies making the business case for having an inclusive non-discrimination policy, but the boards still explicitly oppose doing so, and stated their opposition in their notice to shareholders. Cracker Barrel Old Country Store Inc. had also opposed a similar resolution, but has since amended its policy. l Law firm Foley & Lardner LLP lost points on this criterion for its decision to provide substantive legal expertise to organizations working to oppose marriage equality in the District of Columbia. Although the firm has a long history of pro bono support for LGBT causes, it decided not to abandon its representation of the anti-LGBT organization and has not provided HRC with evidence that such clearly discriminatory clients will not be engaged in the future. l Perot Systems Inc. lost points on this criterion for rescinding domestic partner benefits for its employees. The company ultimately reversed course several years later and points were restored.
What happens when an employer has lost points on this criterion? If at any time after losing points on this criterion an employer changes course and satisfies HRC’s noted concerns, HRC will re-evaluate the criterion for that employer. The rating change may not be reflected until the following year’s Corporate Equality Index report, depending on the situation. Any employer that chooses to maintain its position against LGBT equality will continue to lose points on this criterion until they make an organizational, firm-wide decision to change course and satisfy HRC’s noted concerns. HRC will always seek to improve an organization’s rating and seeks resolutions to benefit an organization’s LGBT workers, consumers and investors.
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Corporate Equality Index 2O11: Rating American Workplaces on LGBT Equality
www.hrc.org/cei