
Launched in 2002, the HRC Foundation's Corporate Equality Index has become a roadmap and benchmarking tool for U.S. businesses in the evolving field of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer equality in the workplace. The HRC Foundation is committed to keeping the criteria for the CEI rigorous, fair and transparent by identifying emerging best practices that improve the experiences of LGBTQ employees of participating businesses. Equally important, we are committed to providing the resources and consultation that enable each business to attain a 100 percent rating.
Updated: 01/27/2022
1. Workforce Protections (5 points possible)
2. Inclusive Benefits (50 points possible)
To secure full credit for benefits criteria, each benefit must be available to all benefits-eligible U.S. employees. In areas where more than one health insurance plan is available, at least one inclusive plan must be available.
3. Supporting an Inclusive Culture (25 points possible)
a. Four LGBTQ+ Internal Training and Accountability Efforts (5)
Businesses must demonstrate a firm-wide, sustained and accountable commitment to diversity and cultural competency, including at least four of the following elements:
b. One LGBTQ+ Data Collection Effort (5)
c. Transgender Inclusion Best Practices (5)
d. Employee Group –OR– Diversity Council (10)
4. Corporate Social Responsibility (20 points possible)
a. Five Distinct Efforts of Outreach or Engagement to Broader LGBTQ+ Community (15)
Businesses must demonstrate ongoing LGBTQ+ specific engagement that extends across the firm, including at least five of the following:
b. LGBTQ+ Corporate Social Responsibility
Contractor/supplier non-discrimination standards AND Philanthropic Giving Guidelines (5)
4. Responsible citizenship (-25)
Employers will have 25 points deducted from their score for a large-scale official or public anti-LGBTQ blemish on their recent records. Scores on this criterion are based on information that has come to HRC’s attention related to topics including but not limited to: undue influence by a significant shareholder calculated to undermine a business’s employment policies or practices related to its LGBTQ employees; directing corporate charitable contributions to organizations whose primary mission includes advocacy against LGBTQ equality; opposing shareholder resolutions reasonably aimed at encouraging the adoption of inclusive workplace policies; revoking inclusive LGBTQ policies or practices; or engaging in proven practices that are contrary to the business’s written LGBTQ employment policies.
Businesses are rated on a scale from 0 to 100, with a certain number of points awarded for meeting each criterion. The HRC Foundation will continue to award partial credit to employers that have satisfied a portion of certain criterion.
The following dates are intended for planning purposes and subject to change:
For the duration of the 2022 calendar year, the CEI team will focus our efforts on educating employers on the new criteria. There will not be a new CEI survey in the field until Spring of 2023. This updated timeline will enable us to devote substantial time to providing additional education to employers on the new criteria. The next report will be released in November 2023.Watch this recording to learn more about the updates and improvements we're making to the CEI for the 2023 cycle.
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