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Award for Workplace Equality Innovation

The Human Rights Campaign Foundation's Corporate Equality Index has been a key driver for advancing forward-thinking policies within corporate America and the change has been nothing short of remarkable. Out of this enormous progress, individual businesses have developed truly innovative programs/initiatives that contribute to lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender workplace inclusion. The HRC Award for Workplace Equality Innovation will help drive innovation by highlighting emerging, effective practices.

2009 Award

In the first year of the Innovation Award, HRC received 17 nominations. Applications were reviewed by an independent panel of nationally recognized experts from business and leading advocacy and academic institutions, including diversity pioneer Ted Childs; former HRC President Elizabeth Birch; transgender advocate and HRC Business Council member Meghan Stabler; Barbara Brown, an attorney at Paul Hastings; Walter Schubert, the first openly gay member of the NY stock exchange; and Chris Crespo with Ernst & Young. Programs were evaluated on innovative, creative problem-solving approaches, measurability of results and replicability.

On March 25, Boeing Co. and law firm Kirkland & Ellis received the first annual HRC Innovation Award for Workplace Equality:

  • Boeing Co. was recognized for its groundbreaking transgender inclusion program – a firm-wide initiative that employs specialized human resources personnel to ensure that people can transition safely on the job.
  • Kirkland & Ellis LLP received the award for a unique recruitment effort that pairs LGBT law students with partners and associates to create a sense of community between the students and the firm.

2010 Application

Download the application form for information about this year's process:

Some examples of innovative programs may include, but are not limited to:

  • LGBT programs that turn policies into practice following mergers & acquisitions or in decentralized organizations
  • LGBT recruitment and retention programs such as optional self-identification, eliminating "front door" bias and promoting LGBT managers (senior-level)
  • Model transgender benefits
  • Performance metrics on LGBT workplace issues
  • LGBT supplier diversity or supply-chain management
  • LGBT global policies and programs
  • Other programs or efforts that significantly changed the workplace climate for LGBT employees and allies

Businesses interested in submitting a program for the award should indicate this in their Corporate Equality Index survey under the "Additional Information" section.