HRC Blog

FedEx Becomes Latest Fortune 100 to Protect Transgender Employees

July 14, 2009

More great LGBT news from mid-America. Memphis-based FedEx Corp. (NYSE: FDX) -- the world's largest express transportation provider which reaches even the most remote corners of the country -- now prohibits discrimination against transgender employees. Earlier this year, NorthStar Asset Management, an investment fund manager, proposed a shareholder resolution to add gender identity to FedEx's corporate non-discrimination policies. Similar shareholder resolutions have been filed at ExxonMobil (NYSE: XOM), Wal-Mart (NYSE: WMT) and Verizon (NYSE: VZN) -- all of which have formally opposed amending their non-discrimination policies. FedEx management, however, opted to address the matter directly and revise its equal employment opportunity statement, rather than send the matter to a shareholder vote later this year. Twelve states and the District of Columbia, as well as more than 100 cities and counties, already prohibit private employers from discriminating based on a person's gender identity, and jurisdictions continue to add protections. FedEx's revised policy will help ensure compliance with those laws and consistency across its operations throughout the United States (at this time, we are unsure if the policy applies globally). FedEx rated 55 out of 100 possible points on the most recent Corporate Equality Index report; that will likely increase as a result of the policy change when the CEI 2010 report is released later this year. The company does not yet offer domestic partner health or other benefits, nor transgender-inclusive health insurance. Atlanta-based United Parcel Service Inc. (NYSE: UPS) has rated 100% since 2008. More than one third of Fortune 500 companies now prohibit discrimination based on gender identity, including more than 60% of the Fortune 100 companies. FedEx is ranked at #59. Additionally, more than 60 employers have joined the Business Coalition for Workplace Fairness the most recent of which is Texas-based Dell Inc.